A *unique* hunk o tin it is, however. The 'tool' IS the history. ONE
airplane was able to do that amount of damage - unprecendented. The
B-29 itself was the most technologically advanced machine of its day.

To repeat what should not require repeating: 1. War sucks. If you
have to do it, make it hard and fast, and get it over with. 2. Fewer
civilians died at Hiroshima than in the fire-bombing of Tokyo or
Dresden, or in the Japanese depredations in China. 3. The use of the
Bomb saved millions of Japanese and American lives that would have
been needlessly lost had the US been forced to invade.

It's a shame that NASM doesn't have a B-36 - an airplane based on the
same technology, but so big that it makes a B-29 look like a kid's tin
toy. The "Peacemaker" never dropped a bomb in anger - it scared the
Soviets out of starting anything stupid in the dark days of the early
Cold War. I'm looking forward to finally getting out to Wright-Pat
and seeing the one they have there.


"plumb bob" wrote in message news:N7kEb.423166$ao4.1358042@attbi_s51...
It's just a chunk of metal... that was used to kill much more than 3,000
innocent civilians - I believe we would call it state sponsored terrorism
these days. Why should we celebrate and adore a killing machine like that -
regardless of the circumstances? Just get it patched up and move on, really.
The history is far more important than the tool.

That should get things started around here :-)


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:GKjEb.593526$Fm2.545217@attbi_s04...
I'm surprised no one has brought up this travesty.

For those who don't know, the Enola Gay -- beautifully refurbished and now
on display at the new Udvar-Hazy facility of the National Air & Space
Museum -- was damaged by some nut case from Ohio who threw something at
the
plane and dented it during a protest against the atomic bombing of Japan.

If it were up to me, a life sentence without hope of parole would be too
good for this jerk. To damage an irreplaceable aircraft, and a piece of
history, is absolutely unconscionable.

Margy, how bad is it?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"