Us Official Photographs

Sweeney Pilot Of B-29 Bockscar Over Nagasaki

Major Charles W. Sweeney, pilot of B-29, "Bock's Car" which atom-bombed Nagasaki, Japan. Marianas Island. Through a curious error, caused perhaps by the removal of the names from the planes, the official communique stated that "The Great Artiste" carried the bomb on 9 August. However the aircraft serial numbers in the mission report as well as verification from Capt. Frederick C. Bock, pilot of "The Great Artiste" which was flown as one of the observation planes on this mission, proves the fact that the "Bock's Car" actually dropped the A-bomb on Nagasaki. In other words, Major Sweeney and Capt. Bock had changed planes for this mission, apparently to avoid the necessity of transferring the scientific instruments.