These are the nose art pictures of all 15 aircraft assigned to the 509th Composite Group on Tinian in 1945. All except for two: 44-27303 and 44-86346 left before they were assigned nose art.

Click on the thumbnail to see a full size picture of the aircraft nose art. The info icon for each aircraft explains a bit more about that aircraft, its missions, and its crews.

... visualize walking down the flightline in late spring of '45, admiring the nose art as you head towards your assigned aircraft, surrounded by historic machines that changed the course of history!

These photos were taken by Leon D. Smith, currently of Albuquerque. As a lieutenant in the 1st Ordnance Squadron of the 509th Composite Group, he almost went on either the Hiroshima or Nagasaki mission, but Morris Jeppson and Philip Barnes won the coin toss. Later he was the weapon test officer on Dave's Dream at Test Able of Operation Crossroads on 1 Jul 46.

Leon Smith gave these pictures to Richard Campbell, who scanned them and sent the files to Tom Mathewson, who put them on a web page and sent the whole collection to Sallyann Wagoner for this site.

Crew: C-13
Aircraft Commander: Frederick C. Bock

Note: Charles W. Sweeney was the Airplane Commander on this aircraft for the Nagasaki mission.

Crew: B-6
Aircraft Commander: John A. Wilson

Note: Wilson and his crew left Tinian on 9 Aug 45 in this aircraft for Wendover to be ready to transport the third atomic bomb. It was named Jabit III at some point after this date but prior to 29 Sep 45 when it was damaged in a landing accident at Chicago Municipal Airport

Crew: A-5
Aircraft Commander: Thomas J. Classen

Note: Classen and his crew left for Tinian in 44-86346 (Luke the Spook) on 9 Aug 45 for Wendover to be ready to transport the third atomic bomb.

Crew: C-14
Aircraft Commander: Norman W. Ray

Note: James I. Hopkins, Jr., was also an Airplane Commander for this aircraft.

Crew: C-12
Aircraft Commander: Herman S. Zahn

Note: Classen and Crew A-5 (from "Big Stink") left Tinian on 9 Aug 45 in this aircraft to return to Wendover to be ready to transport the third atomic bomb. No name was give to this aircraft until after the end of WWII when it was supposedly named Spook (or Luke the Spook) at Roswell.

I would like to thank Tom Mathewson for acquiring these fine images and the information for us and for designing this entire page. Thanks, Tom!!

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