Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
Autograph Letter Signed, “Don Albury”, 2p. folio. Charles Don Albury was co-pilot of the B-29 dubbed Bock's Car that dropped the atomic bomb over Nagasaki, Japan, three days after the first atomic blast leveled Hiroshima. Albury also had flown Great Artiste, the B-29 that accompanied the Enola Gay on its mission to Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. This letter with great content pertaining to the missions reads in part: “...As a member of the 509th Composite Group and the 393rd Bomb Squadron Very Heavy, I can assure you that every man was a dedicated soldier. Each and every man was dedicated to doing his job well. I was the co-pilot on ‘the Great Artiste’ our aircraft that dropped the recording instruments over Hiroshima August 5, 1945. The aircraft commander was Charles W. Sweeney our squadron commander, a fine commander who stood by his men. This mission was picture perfect from time of take off to landing...Col. Paul W. Tibbets was a great leader and an expert on bombing the enemy. We saw the bomb drop and we released our instruments...and saw the bright blast. Looking down all that could be seen was smoke on the ground and a anvil cloud coming up at us and the shock waves along with it, the shock waves jostled the aircraft slightly. On our second mission Nagasaki was not our primary target, Kokcera was. This mission was quite different. We used the ‘Bocks car’ because the scientist said it would take two day to transfer the recording instruments from ‘The Great Artiste’. Before take off Aug. 9, 1945, it was found...A typhoon was heading to our usual route...Upon arriving the instrument Aircraft arrived but the photo aircraft never arrived. After waiting for 45 minutes we decided to go to our primary target. Upon arriving there was industrial smoke obscuring the aiming point. We made two other bomb runs from different sides but to no avail. We decided to continue to our secondary target Nagasaki. Being low on fuel we decided...to drop the bomb by radar because of the fuel instead of dropping it in the ocean....At the last 30 seconds on the bombardier Kermit K. Beakan saw the aiming point and made a quick correction just before the bomb dropped. We were ordered to drop the bombs visually only. The bomb exploded, and the same, lot of smoke, atomic cloud advanced to our altitude to try to reach Okinawa. Arriving at Okinawa we made an emergency approach. Our #2 engine quit on final approach. We were able to stop our B-29 about 500 feet from the end of the runway...” The address portion of the letter has been clipped, else Fine.....plus; Autograph Letter Signed, “Ray Gallagher”, 1p. quarto, stating that he does not have an address for a “Mr. Barnes”. in part: “A lot of years have gone by since we were in the service, and for what reason we don’t seem to stay in touch...” Sgt. Ray Gallagher was an Asst. Flight Engineer of the Enola Gay. Fine. (2 items)
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