Title:INTERVIEWS WITH CREW MEMBERS OF THE 'ENOLA GAY' [Allocated Title]
Film Number:USA 8
Other titles:
Summary: Series of filmed interviews with USN and USAF personnel associated with the bombing raids on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Description: Each man stands before the camera and speaks in turn. Brigadier General Farrell, Theatre Commander of the Atomic Bomb Project, speaks of it as a "great, fantastic, fairy-land project". He is aware of the many people who have contributed to the project, the great moral responsibility entailed, and he is grateful that the secret was entrusted to the USA. They must dedicate themselves to see that the bomb is used only for good and never for evil. Captain Parsons, Weaponeer on the 'Enola Gay', speaks of the many photographs taken of the crew before the trip, generating the atmosphere of a Hollywood premiere. On the flight "everything went with perfection not approached in the rehearsals". The remaining crew members do not display a great range of emotions, but express anxiety for the success of their mission and relief when the bomb exploded. Captain Beahan, bombardier of the 'Great Artiste', speaks without apparent irony, of Nagasaki appearing "pretty as a picture". The film ends with a medium shot of the B-29, and a close-up of the legend, 'Enola Gay'.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:USA 8
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1945-08-14
Production Country: United States of America
Production Details: Palmer, J R (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Parsons (Captain) (person)
Beahan (Captain) (person)
Farrell (Brigadier General) (person)
Keywords: aircraft, United States - combat: Boeing B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay (object name)
operations, United States military - preparation: attack on Nagasaki (object name)
weapons, United States -bomb: atomic bomb (object name)
Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan (geography)
USA & Norton Air Base, CA (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 354 ft; Running time: 10 mins
