Medal Ribbon bar named group enola gay Tibbets DFC AAF

Make sure you read the entire description of this historically significant offering and that you understand it before bidding.  Auction is for medals, photos, ribbons, insignia, rank, correspondence, documentation and signatures of four of the crew members of the B-29 Bomber, Enola Gay, that dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima.  I'm selling the items as a group as they were kept together by the former owner and I feel that they should be sold as one lot.  Normally I tell a little bit about the career of the individual whose items I am offering and/or discuss significant events.  I don't feel that I have to in this case.  All items come with original mailers and any documentation therein.  If you have any questions on this group please feel free to ask about provenance.  Also due to ebay's policy of no selling of cetain medals to conform with the Stolen Valor Act, that include the medals themselves and/or any ribbon, or rosettes associated with the DSC, Silver Star's or Purple Hearts have resulted in them being removed from the auction. There are no government ID's or liscenses offered with this auction.  The cost of this auction has been greatly reduced as the aforementioned medals/ribbons were removed from the auction. 

Two envelopes from Enola Gay's tail gunner, George R. Caron.  There is an autographed photo, Sgt stripes two different and both show signs of having been on a uniform, Brass US collar disk, Meritorious Service bar, Good Conduct Medal Ribbon (pinback), Good Conduct Medal, small block machine letters engraved to George R. Caron (looks like it was polished at one time), Silver Star Medal, unnamed as issued in the field has been removed from the auction.  Comes with a letter and original mailers.. 

Envelope, photograph (Copy as the original photo will be offered with items from the crew of Bockscar, the Nagasaki Bomber), Sew on ribbon bar with Silver Star (removed from auction), DFC, AM, Two First LT pinback bars, One WWII Victory Medal (says it all) from Weapons Officer Jacob Beser.  There is another item that will be discussed below.  Comes with letter and original mailer.

Envelope, photograph with actual signature of Capt Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk, the naviagtor of Enola Gay.  There is also a sew on ribbon bar with American Defense, American Campaign and ETO with Two Bz Stars.  This ribbon bar was with the group but loose in the container and I believe it fell out of this envelope.  Comes with photographs of C-54 (not picutured) that was the group transport aircraft, and the 509th HQ.  All the items were in one container together.  Comes with a letter and original mailer.

Large envelope with old WWII silk escape map of North Africa/Mediterrean area with actual signature of pilot Paul Tibbets,  that he signed in 1989.  There is also an Army Air Force Patch with bullion wings/star, Pinback ribbon bars for a purple colored ribbon and ETO ribbon.  An Air Force clutch back AFOUA, sew on ribbon bar for Air Medal, unknown ribbon, ADSM, another sewn on ribbon bar for a red/white/blue unknown ribbon and DFC w/1 OLC, wide pinback ribbon bar with American Campaign, ETO with holes where at least three stars were at one time, PTO with 1 bz star, the bar has a plastic coating on it.  A photo copy of his discharge.  There are also misc photos of the crew, Enola Gay, Comes with letter with captions for the photos and original mailer. 

Also inclued is a RCA radio vacumn tube.  This was in one of the large envelopes.  It could be a part of the aircraft or it could be a spare part for the bomb.  I consulted the National Atomic Musuem some time ago on this matter and they agreed that it could have been a spare for the bomb as it did have such tubes in it.  You will also get the photocopy of the order announcing the targets for the bomb/go order.  There was one each in the Tibbets and Beser envelopes but I'm keeping one copy for myself.  The tube is not radioactive nor does it exhibit any signs of contamination for those who might be worried on that account.  Whether it's from the bomb or the plane it is historically significant.  The word from the former owner is that it is part of the bomb system as related to him by Beser.  The letter just indicates part was carried on the mission.

Winner will receive bios and historical information related to the men, event and aircraft.  I will also include a CD with 22 photos on it.  All items sold with the original mailers and letters (if present). 

Over recent auctions I have been contacted by collectors and so-called experts who claim to "be in the know."  You are not.  Please be advised that I will answer questions about the material in the auction but I will not trade, go in with you on a deal, end the auction early or try to help enhance your items. 

On 6 August 1945 Enola Gay, piloted by Paul Tibbets took off from Tinian Island, later dropping the first atomic bomb, a uranium weapon called "Little Boy" over Hiroshima, Japan at 8:15 a.m. local.  The crew was successful in their mission with the resulting explosion killing many inidividuals.  Beser was the only crew member to fly on both the Enola Gay and the Bockscar, the B-29 that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki three days later.  Caron was the first man to see the explosion and took the photographs of the event that we are familar with today. Van Kirk, who had joined the Army before the war as an aviation cadet was the navigator who got them to the target.  This event contributed directly to the ending of World War II and is of historical significance. 

As a note I will not cut any deals on this item, give out any personal information on the former owner who obtained these items throughout the 70's, 80's and 90's.  The items were obtained legitmately and are being offered in that vain.  On several recent auctions individuals claiming to have "inside" information have posed as relatives and next-of-kin of some of the individuals from historical groups I have offered or even posed as the indivduals themselves (as they were deceased this was interesting).  I will not negotiate a deal "off-line," give these items away or end this auction early unless through best offer.  I repeat these items were legally obtained and offered for sale as significant historical items.  I have tired to accurately describe the items and their relationship to the corresponding envelopes, documents and photos.  Insurance and delivery confirmation are a must on this auction   

In 2002 the weaponeer on the mission, Morris Jeppson, through Butterfields sold two Atomic Bomb plugs from the Little Boy Bomb for over $150,000 to a private individual.  These fuzes were the key to enabling the bomb.  The US Government tried to stop the sale but the items were deemed unclassified based upon the fact that the Air Force did not try to recover them at the time of the mission.  This past summer, the navigator, Van Kirk sold his log book written during the mission at auction which went to a private bidder for over $350,000 dollars.  I've just been contacted by someone who informs me that Tibbet's flight suit with the DSC for the mission was offered at public auction in October 2008, estimated price $150,000-250,000.  Doubtless there are a few more remaining items from the mission but they are in the hands of family, private individuals and various museums.  

Items were obtained from estate of collector who during the 1970s/80s/90s contacted famous people and obtained a few small items for his personal collection and was the subject of several historical publications of the period on his collection.  At the time period he was collecting it was still possible to talk personally with these individuals and many sent in addition to signed photographs, small items pertaining to their military careers, most probably some of the last items they had.  Over the coming weeks I will be offering these unique one of a kind items.  The name of the collector has been incised from all correspondence but everything remains intact otherwise.  Sold as is, all sales final.  Normal wear and tear associated with age.  Payment will be per paypal rules.  Flat shipping and handling fee of $12.00.  Thanks for looking 

Due to new legislation enacted by the State of Tennessee I will no longer sell or ship military items to residences of that state.