LOT #42029 |
Sold on Jul 16, 2022 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
[World War II, Bombing of Hiroshima]. Autograph Logbook of Capt. Robert A. Lewis [USAAF, Co-Pilot of the Enola Gay... (Total: 2 Items)
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
"MY GOD WHAT HAVE WE DONE..." The only IN-FLIGHT account of the bombing of Hiroshima and the birth of the Atomic Age
[World War II, Bombing of Hiroshima]. Autograph Logbook of Capt.
Robert A. Lewis [USAAF, Co-Pilot of the Enola
Gay], containing the only IN-FLIGHT account of the
"Little Boy" mission and the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
August 6, 1945. U.S. War Department "Line of Position" notebook,
measuring 9 x 6 inches. Stiff drab paper wrappers, top bound in
black cloth, and printed in black. Twenty-five leaves with
autograph notes, recto only; Lewis's IN-FLIGHT account in 11 pages
(comprising the upper and lower covers, rectos and versos, and 8
text pages, rectos only); a history of the 509th bomb group (dated
August 10, 1945) in 14 pages; 3 pages of miscellaneous songs,
poetry, and notes. Rear cover with Lewis' signed pencil sketch
of the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima, labeled "09:30 R.A.L. /
8/6/45."Minor edgewear, minor chipping to a few leaves but not affecting text, wrappers and text block lightly toned, light scattered dampstaining to the upper and lower covers, ink and pencil mark corrections throughout, chiefly in Lewis's hand with pencil corrections in the hand of William L. Laurence, journalist.
[Together with]: An original copy of Time Magazine, "Special Section: The Atomic Age." July 29, 1985. Minor edgewear, toned along margins, a few pages creased at corners.
"It was exactly three o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, August 6, 1945, Marianas time. The first successful atomic bomb mission had come to an end after a round-trip flight of 3,000 miles in an elapsed time of twelve hours and fifteen minutes," (Laurence).
Aside from the navigator's log (only numerically recording the aircraft's course, speed, and coordinates), Lewis's logbook serves as the ONLY IN-FLIGHT account of the Enola Gay's world-changing mission. This small notebook is the culmination of decades of research, years of war, and the collective fear, rage, and grief of a world at loose ends.
Robert "Bob" Lewis, trained by Brigadier General USAAF (and ultimately the Pilot of the "Little Boy" Mission) Paul Tibbets, and at one point branded "a goddam fool, but also a goddam fine pilot" by the same man, was only co-pilot rather than the main pilot for the historic "Little Boy" mission because of clashing personalities and a twist of fate.
"'What the hell is that doing on my plane?' Lewis yelled, when he first spied the words "Enola Gay" on the nose of "his" B-29 bomber," (Gordon). Just days before the mission, and after a few risky training maneuvers by Lewis, Tibbets named the plane for his beloved mother and firmly established himself as the commander of the mission. Feeling unappreciated and annoyed with the situation, Lewis was reportedly quite excited when he was approached by a New York Times reporter, William L. Laurence, and asked to help with the mission in another way: keep a logbook of the Enola Gay's entire flight, which would later be published by the iconic newspaper. William "Bill" Laurence was a journalist who was tangentially associated with the Manhattan Project; having already personally witnessed the atomic test over the desert of New Mexico, he only failed to join this mission due to a series of delays on his way to Tinian. He ultimately did accompany the subsequent mission to Nagasaki and was present for testing after the war on Bikini Atoll.
And thus, this incredible moment-by-moment account of the birth of the Atomic Age came into being, built chiefly on a series of increasingly novel coincidences, human innovation, and desperation. Lewis, fearing the log may be confiscated for security reasons, camouflaged his unique record with "Dear Mom and Dad," and closes with "Love to all, Bud." The text is marked throughout with edits and additions, including Lewis's note written on the inside upper cover, two days after the successful mission:
"Aug 8-1945. This log was a last minute request of William Laurence - (Science Editor) N.Y. Times. He had expected [been ordered] to be aboard, but this request was not permitted [arrived in Tinian too late]. He asked [me] to keep some notes of the mission. A great deal of the notes were written in almost complete darkness. Halfway through I ran out of ink. Capt. Robert A. Lewis. Pencil corrections were made by Mr. William Laurence. Attested as true by William Laurence."
The log begins:
"Little Boy Mission #1 Target Hit / First atomic bomb. / August 6th 1945 / Briefing at 2400 / Eating at 0030 / Dear Mom & Dad - /
We started engines at 0227 and taxied out to take off at 0235. Then we got off the ground at exactly 0245... at the last minute before take-off our cruising altitude had been changed... which meant possibly a rougher trip."
Starting out as an uneventful flight, Lewis continues to record as the bomb technicians make final adjustments: "A 0320 Items 1-11 were completed... by Capt Parsons..."
In an echo of his hope to fly the mission and his resentment at being relegated to co-pilot, Lewis continues, "Col Tibbetts has been hard at work with the usual tasks that belong to the pilot of a B-29."
As the hours count down: "By 0552 it is real light outside," then climbing to 9,000 feet: "We'll stay here until we are about 1 hr. away from the Empire." The bomber makes rendezvous with two other B-29s equipped with observation and photographic gear. Together, the three aircraft climb to an altitude of 30,000 feet. "Everyone will be relieved when we have left our bomb and get half way home, or better still all the way home..."
"At 0730 we are loaded, the bomb is now alive and it's a funny feeling knowing its right in back of you." Hiroshima had been identified at the primary target, but two secondary targets had also selected in the case of unfavorable weather conditions. Two scout planes radioed back information on atmospheric conditions over the targets. "We received a report that our primary is the best target, so we will make a run on Hiroshima. Right now we are 25 miles from the Empire..."
Finally, the crew was in place and it was time to execute mission objective:
"There'll be a short intermission while we bomb our target." Followed by a brief blow-by-blow description of the bomb run, culminating in detonation at 8:16:02 am. "For the next minute no one knew what to expect, the bombardier and the right seat jockey or Pilot [Tibbetts] both forgot to put on their dark glasses and therefore witnessed the flash which was terrific... 15 seconds after the flash there were two very distinct slaps on the ship. Then that was all the physical effects we felt. We then turned the ship so we could observe results, and there in front of our eyes was without a doubt !!! the greatest explosion man has ever witnessed."
Lewis, appearing to struggle for words, finally continues: "I am certain the entire crew felt this experience was more than anyone [sic] human had ever thought possible. It just seems impossible to comprehend. Just how many did we kill? I honestly have the feeling of groping for words to explain this or I might say My God what have we done. If I live a hundred years I'll never quite get those few minutes out of my mind..."
The remainder of Lewis's log records a dumbstruck crew, solemn and shocked. Several days later he adds his history of the 509th bomb crew to the notebook, along with several pages of miscellaneous ditties.
"...But take it from one who is sure of the score / the 509th is winning the war."
The final chilling element of Lewis' log is a pencil sketch of the mushroom cloud blooming over Hiroshima with the caption "various colors," adorning the length of the back cover of the notebook.
Gordon, Ruin from the Air..., 1985; Laurence, Dawn over Zero, 1947.
Provenance: Capt. Robert A. Lewis; Parke-Bernet, November 23, 1971, lot 278, $37,000; Philip D. Sang; Sotheby Parke-Bernet, November 14, 1978, lot 597, $85,000; Malcolm S. Forbes; Christie's, March 26, 2002, lot 172, $391,000.
Auction Info
2022 July 16 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6258 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2022
16th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 7,478
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms