Remarkable original signed pencil sketch on an off-white 11 x 8.5 sheet. Van Kirk draws a large mushroom cloud with a caption "Mushroom cloud, about 60,000 ft. above the target of Aioi Bridge - Center of Hiroshima…The major concerns about the mission were a) Would the bomb work or be a dud b) getting away from the bomb blast. Remember that this had never been done before—it was a great unknown. After the bomb exploded there was a great sense of relief—it had worked and it didn't destroy or damage the airplane." He also draws the Enola Gay airplane's position at the time of the explosion and adds in his hand "Enola Gay Altitude 31,060, heading about 60° speed 259 knots." He also adds at the center of the explosion " Atomic Bomb Explosion 1980 ft. above ground zero." Signed in pencil "Theodore J. Van Kirk - Navigator - Enola Gay - 6 Aug 1945.” In fine condition. An important, and possibly one-of-a-kind, first hand account of the first ever use of a nuclear weapon during war time. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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