Initially, they flew low, about a mile above the Pacific. Once aloft, he took the aircraft's bearings, using the northern tip of Saipan island and, later, the stars above, as reference points. van Kirk spread out his charts on a tiny table just behind the pilot's and co-pilot's seats. The crew had breakfast, then headed for the plane. A final, midnight briefing was closed with a chaplain's prayer. Tibbets passed the time playing blackjack with the plane's bombardier, Tom Ferebee. The crew was told to get some sleep.īut who could? Instead, Mr. At an afternoon briefing, the primary target was announced: Hiroshima.
van Kirk, who was a captain, got orders for the mission the previous day, and as navigator spent hours drawing up a flight plan.