B-29 Enola Gay Signed By Dutch Van Kirk 1:72 A3072

B-29 Enola Gay Signed By Dutch Van Kirk 1:72 This high quality replica is handcrafted from mahogany and comes with a wooden base. Dimensions are 16.25"(L) X 10.25"(H) X 23.25" (Wingspan) Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk (b.1921), Navigator for the Enola Gay, was an American U.S. Army Air Corps navigator who flew 58 B-17 Flying Fortress combat missions with the 97th Bomb Group over occupied France and Germany during WW II. He was selected to fly General Mark Clark on a secret mission to negotiate with the Free French in Algeria, and was navigator on the aircraft that flew General Dwight Eisenhower to the invasion site in North Africa to launch Operation Torch. In 1945 he navigated the Enola Gay when it dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. In August 1946 he completed his service in the Air Corps as a major. His decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and 15 Air Medals. Morris Richard Jeppson (b. 1922) was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during WW II. He served as assistant weaponeer on the Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August, 6 1945. Jeppson, along with Rear Admiral William Sterling Parsons were responsible for arming the bomb during the flight from Tinian to Japan. Jeppson's role was to remove the safety plugs from the weapon just before reaching the target area. In September 1945, Jeppson was awarded the Silver Star in recognition for his service to his country.