If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!!!
From the Atomic Heritage website: "On August 5, 1945, a B-29 was maneuvered over a bomb loading pit and then taxied to Runway Able at North Field. At 2:45am on August 6, the B-29 - piloted by Lt. Col. Paul Tibbets of the 509th Composite Group, who had named the plane after his mother, Enola Gay - took off." "On August 9, 1945, Bockscar was piloted by another crew, C-15, led by aircraft commander Charles W. Sweeney. Takeoff from Tinian's North Field Runway Able was at 3:45 a.m." Once again, Sir, you have produced a History Traveller episode of stunning quality and amazing detail. If ever you find yourself in England I'd be honoured to buy you a pint or 3.
@@danielhillier7417 I'm a self-confessed history nerd... period. Mainly focusing on Irish political and ecological history. But also heavily a WWI/WWII History nerd too. Channels, like this, let me see a "real" view of battlegrounds I'd, probably, never get to. JR is a LEGEND!
I had a Geometry teacher in HS that was a WWII vet. He used to use the old WWII phonetic pronunciations during classes. A-Able, B-Baker, C-Charlie, D-Dog, NOT Delta. Delta was adopted in 1947 and in what is called the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Alphabet, Able was also changed to Alfa (not Alpha as it is International and some languages would stumble over the "ph"). Baker got changed to Bravo. Others were changed too, G- George was changed to Golf, K was King now known as Kilo. N- Nan to November. P- Peter to Papa, S- Sugar to Sierra, T-Tare to Tango, U- Uncle to Uniform, W-William to Whisky, Y-Yoke to Yankee, and finally Z- Zebra to Zulu.
I'm 46 and juat retired from 20 years state service in Maryland division of corrections and when I was a rookie officer all the old heads were ex military and did the same thing and to this day I still do it. Something that just stuck.
My father was on Tinian from mid 1944 to the end of the war. He said that the Enola Gay was sequestered at the far end and completely isolated from the rest of the aircraft. He said he knew something was up, but didn't know what. They weren't told anything until the Enola Gay was on its way back to Tinian after dropping the bomb. As you can guess, my father was on B-29's. During one of their missions, his best friend (Von Plevan) was killed by a Japanese Zero. No one else on the plane (Ole Bitchuary Bess) got a scratch. Because Von was my dad's best friend, dad took it upon himself to write Vons' parents and told them about the mission, how Von was killed and what a great friend he was. Because my dad did this, Vons' parents . They more or less adopted my dad as their own. They became Grandma and Grandpa to me . I was named after Von and honored to carry his name. Thank you so much for this video. Von Golden
My dad was there also. He was attached to the 18th.his two main jobs were operating searchlights to bring our planes in at night and also look for enemy planes and manning the anti aircraft artillery to shoot down enemy aircraft. It took about eight men to shoot those weapons. They were big and dug into a pit about six feet deep. When I learned about those I was impressed. One person had to just do the calculations of speed of the aircraft, height and trajectory of gun. I've got all his photographs from Tinian and Saipan. All on disc now to preserve them. Each photo shows many of his friends as well as other Marines and their names on the back of the photos. I'm almost seventy now but I always hoped I could find some of those guys or their families so they could have pictures of their fathers or grandfather's from the war. I'll never ever give the to the USMC. Theyll just stuff them in boxes, put on a shelf somewhere and nobody will ever see them again. At the official USMC museum they are extremely woke now and only show pictures of women in the corps or minorities. They're trying to erase the real history of WWII and other wars to make the corps and public only see diversity equity crap. It's disgusting. I just hope all these pictures I have don't disappear after I'm gone. My dad's nickname was bulldog Davis and his arm patch was the 18th. When I was in the military in the seventies, I was in the 18th TRS and everyone called me mad dog Davis. I always wondered about the coincidence. I grew just down the road from the Kodak Hawkeye plant that processed the original zapruder film of JFK's assassination which doesn't exist anymore. It was picked up by two unknown men. I served in the unit that discovered the missiles on Cuba that almost caused a nuclear war involving Kennedy. Life is strange.
Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to visit a place that my Grandfather with the 2nd Marine Dibision (D/2/18) liberated and that he may have had a hand in building (the airfield).
Our youth are not being taught like they should in the subject of history even more so in American History , as much as JD does here and as much i wish his videos were being shown in schools, It is up to us... the Parents, Grandparents, the Elderly and the neighbors to take some time out of our busy lives and pass the knowledge ( like JD's Videos ) and story's of our past Victories and failures , past lessons taught and learned. How we became the greatest country in the world in every way. Without us passing this info along to our youth it will fade away into the past to be forever forgotten. We can stop that from happening but it will take all of us to do it. Let's save the FUTURE by teaching in the PRESENT so we don't repeat the PAST.
During this whole Pacific series I keep being more and more amazed whenever you mention the indigenous peoples of these islands. It is mind boggling to me when I look at a world map and see the vast oceans around these tiny specks of land and think about how these peoples got to these places... Just, how?? I have so much respect for their ancestors for making the trip hundreds of years ago with what is by our standards "primitive" equipment. Even the Vikings rarely left the coastlines on their explorations and these peoples just went across the oceans in their boats. Simply amazing.
When you start diving into the history of the Polynesian people, it really is amazing to see what they accomplished. They were doing more with less before the Europeans even dipped their toes in the water.
I have seen much of the footage leading up to takeoff of Enole Gay and Boxcar. But, JD, your video hammered home the significants of this place powerfully. Thank you for being on the ground and walking us through. Also, I believe it's the first time I've seen the bomb pits after they were preserved. Way Cool!
I loved the the island history before it was invaded. The Island native culture is so important. Glad you showed it. These people need to have their story told just as much as the soldiers who fought to help them persevere it. Great video and thank for sharing it. 👍🙂
Back in 2018 I was able to visit Tinian and these sites with the Pacific Battlefields Tour from Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours. It was a phenomenal experience to walk these historic sites. JR has captured the experience perfectly. He does such a great job of taking us to all of these sites, and backfilling the history with great stories, video and music. I am going back to Tinian, Saipan, Guam and Iwo Jima again next year with the Ambrose Tours. It is the experience of a lifetime to visit these hallowed sites of WWII History with Battlefield Historians and fellow History Buffs. Nothing like it.
Yeah swear to God I got to go on one of those European and Pacific tours b4 WWIII kills us all! But know Pacific tour got to be so much more expensive than in Europe. And with Europe can see WWI places too!?
1976 our platoon was sent to Tinian to look for WW2 explosives etc. We stayed at a partially destroyed Japanese bunker. You could stand in the hole where the building was hit, extend your arms out and not touch the sides, reach up and not touch the top of the hole... it was a big hole. The runways were still intact, we actually would drive the runways at night, and they would be covered by huge frogs. The bomb pits weren't covered at this time. From the north end of the island, you could see Saipan. We were there during Typhoon Pamela and the villagers that stayed behind stayed with us. We flew by CH53 to Guam, 122 miles over ocean. The typhoon leveled Guam.
And I arrived on Guam in July of 1976, reporting to the Naval Communications Area Master Station. That was just a couple months (or so) after Pamela did her worst to the island. Damage was still in evidence everywhere. Guess I should have taken a trip over to Tinian while I was there, at least I'd have that connection.
Surveyed Unai Chulu (White Beach II) 10Nov1971 with then U.S. Marine Col. Vicente T. "Ben" BLAZ while we were TAD from 3rd MAR Div. Okinawa via U.S. Navy LST 1185, USS Schenectady. Celebrated the Corps' 196th Birthday at Fleming Restaurant.
JD, you absolutely put us right there with you. I could feel the incredible tension in the air as those men were handling those bombs. I wonder if anyone, including the pilots, were told what to expect after the explosions!
Excellent video, as always. I visited Tinian with my family in 2010 and, like you, was shocked at how desolate the northern airfield was. I wish I could have spent a couple of days touring the island, but my kids were toddlers at the time and that somewhat limited my exploring options. But I will never forget the glass enclosure over the bomb pits. Such a monumental historic site, yet so remote.
I know you hear this all the time, and I don't know how your able to go to all these places but I am sure glad you do but man! You really give people an incredible feel for the details and how these battles were fought. I hope you are able to do this for a long time to come. It's just insane what we get to see through your work and love of history. Also, never stop being a kid...even that gave us great perspective. I can even see a History channel possibility in your future.
Thank you. That means a lot. There was a production company that was producing hey series for history channel that reached out to me about possibly hosting a show. In the end, I didn’t have quite what they were looking for. Which is fine. I like what I’m doing.
It does not surprise me that they contacted you at all. If it did not work out this time, it will..as long as it's what you want. If so, don't let them change your style because it's what works and why they contacted you to begin with.
JD once again you have brought history to life. This part of WW2 and the use of the BOMB has so affected our lives, even today. Your video editing is impressive, love the changes from now to then images, and the drone shots are spot on! Thank you.
Don't fail to look at the airfield where Tibbits and his crews trained for this historic flight. Please look into the Windover Airfield in Nevada. See the bomb pit they trained on, the hangers they stored the planes in, and even the space that Tibbets had his office in. There is still a lot of the old infrastructure there and some of the original runways still support commercial flights. The hangers are being restored. Thanks for all your work on such a great series, much enjoyed!
This was the one I was waiting to see when I knew you were on Tinian. "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" R. Oppenheimer, 1945. Very humbling. Glad you made it off the island safe JD. Keep up the great work!
I only hope a surviving service member that was there back in 1945 has watched this video. Clearly the veteran would be 95 plus years young. How nostalgic for them to see what this island looks like almost 80 years later. Thanks for this excellent video.
Thank you for this series on the often overlooked battle for The Marianas. One of the first books I read about WWII was To The Marianas by Edwin P. Hoyt. It has been in my library now for 42 years.
I would first like to thank you for this series in the Pacific. It doesn't always get the attention the European theater does. Also, thank you for showing the airfields. My Great Uncle was a flight engineer on a B-29 during the war. Second, I was privileged to meet Col Tibbets at an air show on 7/4/04 in Muskegon MI. There was also one of the very rare B-29s still flying. Seeing and hearing one pass over was definitely a thrill. I thought you may appreciate reading something from Return Of The Enola Gay written by Col. Tibbets as you stood on runway Able. From page 216 an exchange between him and the tower.... "Dimples Eight Two to North Tinian Tower. Ready for takeoff on runway Able." Reply from tower "Dimples Eight Two. Dimes Eight Two. Cleared for takeoff."
Awesome wrap up JD 👍 My father-in-law was on leave after returning from the ETO when the Japanese surrendered. He was scheduled to report to Camp Cooke, California for amphibious training before heading to the PTO as part of Operation Coronet which itself was a part of Operation Downfall, the invasion of the Japanese home islands. The loss of American life was estimated to be around one million. Those bombs saved a lot of individual lives, on both sides.
I watched your entire playlist and I absolutely appreciate the time, energy and knowledge you shared on here. The way you pieced your videos together, the way you tell the stories and ventured into the jungles, had me going through all types of emotions. I felt the adventure, the anticipation to learn more from what you've learned and I've also laughed at your likeable humor. Thank you thank you thank you! I am from the island of Saipan. My great grandparents originated from the island of Guam. My great grandfather and his son died during the war on Saipan. Si Yu'us Ma'ase for capturing our history and making it accessible for the rest of the world to remember and to learn about. I wish you had visited the island of Rota and the Northern Islands, I know Rota has a lot of Japanese caves and other WW II Relics to look at. lol Perhaps on your next visit. PS. I am definitely subscribing to learn more of our history with you. see you on your other videos. :D
One of my High School AFJROTC instructors was scheduled to fly, as the navigator, on the third and fifth atomic bomb flights had they been required/ordered. Your video dove tailed perfectly into things he told us about his time with the squadron and his time on the island right down to the locations and design of facilities built for the storage and loading of the two A-bombs that were dropped along with what would have been follow up devices that were shipped back to the U.S. after the end of WWII.
JD, I had chills several times throughout this video seeing the island and bomb pits from which the atomic bombs were loaded and launched. As usual, an excellent video.
Wow! To see the bomb pits. The runway. And the old video of it all is just amazing! JD you just link that all up in one video that is amazing it makes it so real for me! Never, never ,never have I ever seen and told about this runway and bomb pits and where the bomb was assembled. I knew it had to be but never saw it. This is in the top 5 best video you ever put out!
I'm glad you got your wish and made it to this location and thanks for taking us along with you. So much history in the past videos you have been putting out. You can't witness this footage and not get chills as the significance really hits home when you see the footage of the detonation. My Uncle flew over Hiroshima right after the Japanese surrender. I've got an old black and white photo he took of Hiroshima when flying over. Really sobering to look at it. Really do appreciate this YT Channel ...
Thank you JD. Thank you for telling us about the House of Taga on your way to the airfields. If only that island can talk what tales it would tell! So much history. Those who went in those canoes sound like Navy SEAL material to me! You can be where many can only read in books. Thank you for making history come alive in your videos, JD. To be here and other world changing events in world history occurred, is such a privilege and I am sure with no doubt has had made a tremendous and significant forever impact on your life. Learning about history from your channel sure has made an tremendous impact on mine and many others as well…
I had the opportunity to work on Tinian in the summer of 1975, carrying out audits of the Bar K Ranch, a large cattle ranch (dairy and beef) then extant on the island. I visited both bomb pits and in those days, there were no glass covers; the small concrete pillars with the copper plaques were actually located down in the bomb pits themselves without any other indications as to their significance. In 1975, Quonset huts and other detritus of the American presence still abounded (B29 wheels, carts, etc). The Bar K Ranch was a client, and as part of the annual audits,we had to carry out round-ups of the beef cattle which were allowed to roam Tinian throughout the year, since the entire island comprised the ranch, with exception of the small village of San Jose at the north end of the island. Rounding up the cattle for dipping, tagging, and inventory was an adventure in itself (I loved it) since what we would consider to be normally docile cows turn into mean, aggressive animals when left to fend for themselves. Rounding these guys up was particularly problematic because a lot of them tended to hang out in the Quonset huts (essentially medium-sized caves) to stay out of the heat. Rousting the cattle out of the huts was dangerous because you had to dismount from your horse and go in after the cows which they definitely did not like; they’d charge In an instant and run your ass over, if they could. Fun times, for a city boy, like me…
I visited Tinian in 1999. At the time the Pits were open and only had simple signs in English and Japanese to identify them. I guessed enough Japanese tourists visited to need a Japanese language sign. It’s at the end of the earth(Hawaii to Guam to Saipan to Tinian), but a memorable visit for the reasons you have stated.
JD, You do wonderful stuff and I for one, really appreciate your work. Eric's work too for that matter. The minute I see a new post from you, I jump right at it! I'm a Pennsylvania boy by birth,and grew up in all the revolutionary War history surrounding our small town. I visited Gettysburg as a young teenager in the 1960s just literally stunned me. I remember thinking that there was a raging war going on there, just short of a hundred years prior. It was in summer and I even remembered the sweet smells of grasses,trees, creosote from the logs. It was magical and eerie all at once. I thought if but about 98 yrs, I could have been a Yankee soldier at that age. The whole Gettysburg experience that day, has stayed with me my entire life right up to today. I just turned 73 yrs old a few weeks ago. Couple yrs later, I joined the Marines in 1968 and entered service in downtown Philadelphia just like legions of Pennsylvanians did so many yrs before me for all of our wars in history. I will always have a warm spot in my heart for Pennsylvania. Keep up your great work for us all. Jeff
Thanks for the video. My uncle Clayton Pat Patisaul few off this island. He was there when the 2 atomic bombs left for Japan. His earlier plane was damaged over Japan, on a mine-dropping operation, and his crew bailed out over Iwo Jima.
When I was there in 1983 there was a message written on the pavement at the Atom Bomb Pits welcoming Pope John Paul II to the island. From what I am told the US Armed Forces still use the airfields for training. We built a rifle range and grenade ranges there.
Yep it’s still used for training my unit went there for joint training back in 2020 for an exercise with Australian and Japanese forces. It was surreal to be there.
An amazing video! My father was stationed there during the Korean war and flew B-29s. I just wish whoever is responsible for the runways and loading pits would take better care of them. Thank you for all the great videos!
I recently had the pleasure of flying in a B-29 named "FIFI" ran by the CAF. It's no jet liner, but the takeoff is just as majestic as you think it is. It's an experience I will never forget. I can't even imagine what it was like to fly in that in a combat zone. To those who did, their souls are brave
My grandfather was an Army machinist/mechanic and was stationed on Tinian in 1944. He once mentioned that the enlisted men made their own wind powered washing machines.
Man, your vids are so freakishly good it isn't even funny. You tap into my absolute love of history every single time. Beaumont Hamel when you get back to Europe. It is a riveting story, yet tragic story out of WW1. Keep up the excellent work!
Trivia: 50 years ago those pits were not covered and had only the stone marker. Also visited Tinian the same way, a private plane from Guam, when off duty.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Your tour of the islands, 50 years after I had been stationed on Guam with the U.S. Navy had a lot memories flowing again. I really should get my photo slides digitized. Great set of presentations.
52 yrs ago, (10Nov1971) Atomic Bomb Loading Pits #1 & #2 WERE filled in; I have the photo of me kneeling in front of the bronze plaque mounted on concrete block marker.
