Posted on 04/10/2004 5:37:47 PM PDT by GeneD
Filed at 6:59 p.m. ET
CHICAGO (AP) -- Fred Olivi, who copiloted the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, has died. He was 82.
Olivi, a native of Chicago, died Thursday at a rehabilitation center in a Chicago suburb, officials at Panozzo Bros. funeral home said Saturday. He suffered a stroke in August.
The crew of the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, on Aug. 9, 1945, the crew of the B-29 bomber nicknamed Bockscar dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered six days later, ending World War II.
``While thousands died, I feel sure the bomb had to be dropped because if the Americans had been forced to invade Japan, it would have been a bloodbath,'' Olivi told the Chicago Sun-Times in a 1995 interview.
Olivi was one of many veterans angered by an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution for the 50th anniversary of the bombings.
``It's slanted more in sympathy to the Japanese than it is to us,'' he said in a 1994 interview.
Olivi enlisted with the Army Air Forces immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. ``He always wanted to fly,'' said his older brother, Emil Olivi. ``The Air Corps gave him a chance, and he took it.''
After the war, Olivi served in the Air Force Reserve, flying with a troop transport squadron based at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport until 1971. He ended his service as a lieutenant colonel.
Olivi also worked full-time as a manager of bridge operations and maintenance for the city of Chicago until he retired in 1988.
In the mid-1960s, Olivi married Carole McVey, whom he met in high school. She died in 1998.
Until his stroke, Olivi traveled around the country touring air shows, giving speeches, visiting museums and selling his self-published book, ``Decision at Nagasaki.''
Besides his brother, survivors include six nieces and nephews.
My Daddy was a WW II vet (he served stateside), and he firmly believed that the dropping of those two bombs shortened the war and saved many American lives.
No doubt about that in my mind.
What most people don't realize is we were not going to stop at those two bombs. We would keep it up until they surrendered. - Tom
Source: U.S. National Archives, Record Group 77, Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, Manhattan Engineer District, TS Manhattan Project File '42 to '46, Folder 5B "(Directives, Memos, Etc. to and from C/S, S/W, etc.)."
The written order for the use of the atomic bomb against Japanese cities was drafted by General Groves. President Truman and Secretary of War Stimson approved the order at Potsdam.
The order made no mention of targetting military objectives or sparing civilians. The cities themselves were the targets. The order was also open-ended. "Additional bombs" could be dropped "as soon as made ready by the project staff."
Bock's Car. The Plane that flew the Nagasaki Mission. Historic Printed Photograph Signed. A beautiful color photograph of the B-29 that carried out the mission on Nagasaki (August 9, 1945). An 8 in. by 10 in., oblong, color photo showing the nose of Bock's Car. Signed by seven members of the crew c. early 1990s. Signed clockwise from upper left: "M/SGT John D. Kuharek Flight Engineer 'Bocks Car' Aug 9, 1945" "Major Charles Sweeney Airplane Commander Bocks Car Aug 9, 1945" "Sgt. Ray Gallagher asst. Flt. Engineer BocksCar Aug. 9, 1945" "Frederick J Ashworth Commander U.S. Navy 'Weaponer' -BocksCar Nagasaki -9 Aug 1945" "Bob Haideo A&E Mechanic" "Capt. CD Albury - Pilot Bockscar Nagasaki -9 Aug 1945" "Lt. Fred J. Olivi Co-Pilot". The photograph of the plane was reproduced from the original slides taken on Tinian Island sometime in late August 1945, early September 1945, by the engineering officer of the 509th, Carl Garner.
Maybe that shall indeed happen within the next 24 hours. Now that the American media has shown the footage of the hostage Hamill it is indeed possible. People in general will understand that no matter what we do that Hamill will probably be murdered. Saddens me to no end but a huge consequence must be paid for this brutality that will happen. ARGHH I am so frustrated this evening. : (
That's where I live - aka Oak Ridge, Tennessee. And tomorrow, when I go to church, I'll be sitting behind a couple of the men who worked the project. The home I bought in December was built during the Project - and sits about a mile from the entrance to the Y-12 weapons plant. I drive past it every day on my way to work.
Lots of "There wouldn't have been a Hiroshima if there hadn't been a Pearl Harbor" bumper stickers around here. And the men (and women) who worked the project are absolutely unapologetic for what they did - and good on them for that.
I was born in 1935, so I was around when the atomic bombs fell on Japan. I never heard anyone at that time second guess that decision in a detrimental way. Some critism came much later when Japan was no longer a threat. - Tom
Thank them for us.
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