Presented is a black and white 8 x 10 inch photograph of “The Great Artiste,” the only aircraft to participate in both the bombing of Hiroshima and the bombing of Nagasaki as an observation aircraft on both missions. Members of the flight crew have signed and inscribed the photo. At the top left, “Capt. C.D. Albury - Co-Pilot – Instrument Plane Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945” is signed in blue ink. Immediately below, also in blue ink, is “Sgt. Ray Gallagher Asst. Flight Engineer.” Across the top of the aircraft is the signature, in blue ink, “Charles Sweeney Aircraft Commander 6 Aug 1945.“ At the bottom left, in black marker, is the signature “M/Sgt. John Kuharek Flight Engineer.” In the middle in blue marker is “Lawrence Johnston Scientific Yield Observer,” and below that is the signature, also in blue, “Walter Goodman.” At the bottom right is the signature “Harold M. Agnew Yield Measurement” in blue marker, while at the top right, also in blue marker, is “Al Moore A+E Mech.” The Great Artiste was a B-29 bomber assigned to the 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Composite Group, that flew 12 training and practice missions in which it bombed Japanese-held Pacific Islands and dropped “pumpkin bombs” on targets in Japan. This item is accompanied by a LOA from PSA/DNA (AB12659).

Auction Notepad