Thomas Wilson Ferebee

Military

He was the Bombardier who dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima. Paul Tibbets was the pilot. They had flown together in combat completing 63 missions over Europe and North Africa. They flew on the 'Red Gremlin' The atom bomb drop was on 6 Aug 45.

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Paul Warfield Tibbets

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-361713
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-24444

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Red Gremlin, Superman
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Mocksville, North Carolina 8 November 1918

Died

16 March 2000

Buried

Pino, North Carolina

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
ChangesChanges to middlename, service number, highest rank and awards
Sources

NARA files verified Silver Star for 6 August 1945 Hiroshima bombing mission, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal.

Date
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

97th Bomb Group Association, Inc., Roster - June 1, 2000, brother / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia