It is the name of the main character in the novel Enola or, her Fatal Mistake (1886) by Mary Young. While this exhibit is now closed, Museum specialists continued to restore the remaining components of the airplane, and after an additional nine years the fully assembled Enola Gay went on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. This name first appeared in the late 19th century. The original lady logo was removed, and the company has adopted the mindset that the Enola Gaye name serves as an education to remember the sacrifices of those who fought in the war. The aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was named Enola Gay after the mother of the pilot, who was herself named for the book character. It is the name of the main character in the novel Enola or, her Fatal Mistake (1886) by Mary Young Ridenbaugh.
The exhibition text summarized the history and development of the Boeing B-29 fleet used in bombing raids against Japan.Īnother portion of the exhibit detailed the painstaking efforts of Smithsonian aircraft restoration specialists who had spent more than a decade restoring parts of the Enola Gay for this exhibition. A name change was discussed, but the market recognised the name so well, it was deemed commercial suicide to do so. This name first appeared in the late 19th century. The components on display included two engines, the vertical stabilizer, an aileron, propellers, and the forward fuselage that contains the bomb bay.Ī video presentation about the Enola Gay's mission included interviews with the crew before and after the mission including mission pilot Col. It contained several major components of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber used in the atomic mission that destroyed Hiroshima, Japan.
This past exhibition, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, told the story of the role of the Enola Gay in securing Japanese surrender.