[Fred] Olivi, Co - Pilot in Nagasaki Bombing, Dies

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 04/10/2004

[Law is not justice but process]

A fond farewell to a great American.

[First_Salute]

God Bless him.

[fella]

The WW II vets are passing from the scene. Soon the leftist will start redefineing the truth about that war when the voices of those who were there can longer be raised to call them the liers that they are.

[Ciexyz]

RIP.

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.

[arly]

Salute to a Great American !... God Bless you and R.I.P.

[Republic Rocker]

We could use another Olivi right about now...!

[Capt. Tom]

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."

[A Jovial Cad]

My grandfather was a Pacific War veteran who died in 1986 (Fifth Air Force, 49th Fighter Group). Now another comrade-in-arms has joined him in heaven. Knowing my grandfather, he was standing there waiting to greet this American hero into the ranks of heaven with a stiff salute and a hug.
RIP, brave warrior. And may God comfort your family at this time.

[RaceBannon]

[RaceBannon]

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.

[alisasny]

We could use another Olivi right about now...!

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. : (

[Law is not justice but process]

Thank you for the picture. It is good that WWII was so thoroughly documented in pictures, movies, and prose. We have no excuse for ever forgetting the lessons and sacrifices of that war.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Manhattan Engineer District

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.

[Capt. Tom]

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

[quietolong]

>>> Soon the leftist will start redefineing <<<

Soon ??? They started 60 years ago!

[null and void]

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.

Thank them for us.

[Skywarner]

My father, who passed away several months ago, was a B-29 aviation mechanic detached to the 509th Composite Group on Tinian during WWII. The 509th was the group of 15 (IIRC) specially modified B-29 Superfortress bombers that were designed to carry the atomic bombs.

My father was also 82 years old when he passed away. I don't know for sure, but I think it's a safe bet that my father knew Olivi.

There aren't many of these heroes left...

[COEXERJ145]

[Skywarner]

"What most people don't realize is we were not going to stop at those two bombs."

Correct. My father, who was an aviation mechanic in the 509th, told me before he passed away about the third atomic bomb whose components were being assembled on Tinian.