RIP: Charles W. Sweeney | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.02.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.03.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.04.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.05.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.06.25

Mon, Jul 19, 2004

RIP: Charles W. Sweeney

Piloted Aircraft That Destroyed Nagasaki

Charles Sweeney was convinced he did the right thing. On August 9th, 1945, the 25-year old Sweeney piloted a B-29 he called "Bock's Car" on the second and last atomic bombing mission of World War II. The bomb his crew dropped over Nagasaki killed 70,000 people and hastened the end of the war.

Sweeney died Thursday in Boston at the age of 84.

A staunch defender of the atomic missions, Sweeney told Quincy (MA) Patriot Ledger in 1995, "I looked upon it as a duty. I just wanted the war to be over, so we could get back home to our loved ones. I hope my missions were the last ones of their kind that will ever be flown."

Sweeney was also a participant in the only other atomic mission of the war three days earlier. He piloted an instrumentation aircraft along with Paul Tibbets over Hiroshima, recording the effects of the bomb on a populated target.

His flight to Nagasaki was tension-filled. Bock's Car suffered fuel problems almost from the start. Its primary target, Kokura, was obscured by overcast. After several high-risk passes over the city, he opted to hit the back-up target, Nagasaki.

Retired USAF Brigadier General Charles Sweeney has gone west, where there are no war clouds -- only smooth air and CAVU skies. Happy landings, General.

FMI: www.childrenofthemanhattanproject.org/CG/CG_09C2.htm

Advertisement

More News

Citation Operators Get Another Flight Data Connection for QA

LinxUs System Adds Capabilities for Data-Driven Operators Textron Aviation announced another option for operators processing their post-flight data, adding interoperability with GE>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.01.25)

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club Ltd The de Havilland Moth Club evolved from a belief that an association of owners and operators of Moth aeroplanes should be formed to create>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Bellanca 8GCBC

(Pilot) Inadvertently Applied Excessive Braking Action, And The Airplane Nosed Over Analysis: The pilot reported that, while landing at a remote, rough and uneven airstrip in a tai>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.01.25)

“MCADT is committed to rapidly integrating armed first-person view drones into the FMF, enhancing small-unit lethality and providing organic capabilities that warfighters cur>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: High-Speed Match-up - Venom and GE Rebirth A Legend

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Major Engine Supplier Joins Forces With Small Aircraft Manufacturer… GE recently made an agreement with Venom Aircraft to supply engines for the>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC