U.S. pilot Paul Tibbets, who flew the Enola Gay and dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, described it as a serious and carefully planned military operation. He knew the bomb’s immense power but stayed focused on executing his mission accurately. After the explosion, he saw the huge mushroom cloud and felt the shockwave from miles away. While aware of the destruction, Tibbets believed the mission was essential to end World War II and prevent a costly invasion of Japan. He felt