THE BESER FOUNDATION FOR ARCHIVAL REEARCH AND PRESERVATION

MISSION STATEMENT

Foundations mission is to honor the heroes who died preserving our freedom by researching new technologies and methodologies to insure that their stories are preserved and remembered. That through this process the present and future generations will understand and learn as to not repeat the mistakes of the past generations.

Transcripts and audio tapes of interviews with 509th crew members -- CAUTION VERY LARGE FILES


Col. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr.--47.2MB-- Commander 509th Composite Group and Pilot Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
Capt. Robert A. Lewis--31.9 MB-- Co-Pilot Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
LtCol. Thomas Ferebee --24.0 MB-- Bombadier Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
Maj. Theodore J. Van Kirk--43.8 MB-- Navigator Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
1stLt. Jacob Beser--51.0 MB-- Electronics Countermeasurers Officer Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission and Bock's Car August 9, 1945 Nagasaki Mission
Pfc. Richard H. Nelson--41.1 MB-- Radio Operator Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
S/Sgt. Wyatt E. Duzenbury--12.8 MB-- Flight Engineer Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
S/Sgt. Joseph A. Stiborik--16.5 MB-- Radar Operator Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
Sgt. Robert H. Shumard--15.5 MB-- Assistant Flight Engineer Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
S/Sgt. George Caron--33.9 MB-- Tail Gunner Enola Gay August 3, 1945 Hiroshima Mission
Jacob Beser--3.14 MB-- Audio tape of Radio Interview ----
Jacob Beser--162 KB-- Miscellaneous interviews with the press ----
The Major Etherly Story--4.97 MB-- Audio Tape narrated by Jacob Beser in a Radio Interview -----

Military Orders


General Orders 8 --1.31 MB-- Issued by HQ 509TH COMPOSITE GROUP awards bronze star medals
Field Orders 13 dated 2 August 1945 -- 14.9 mByte -- Orders issued by the TWENTIETH AIR FORCE to attack targets in Japan on August 6, 1945 Primary: Hiroshima Industrial Area -- Secondary: Kokura Arsenal
Report Number 8 dated - Field Orders 13 - --490 KB-- Mission Planning Summary -- Special Bombing Mission, #13 Issued by the TWENTIETH AIR FORCE GUAM -- Mission Executed: 6 August 1945 -- Details the orders for the Hiroshima Raid
Report Number 9 - Field Orders 17 - --4.31 MB-- Mission Planning Summary -- Special Bombing Mission, #16 Issued by the TWENTIETH AIR FORCE GUAM -- Mission Executed: 9 August 1945 -- Details the orders for the Nagasaki Raid
Special Orders 6 --903 KB-- Issued by HQ 509TH COMPOSITE GROUP awards bronze star medals
Special Orders 12 --309 KB-- 12 January 1945
Special Orders 31 --6.82 MB-- 31 March 1945
Special Orders 109 --294 KB-- 19 April 1945
Special Orders 122 --532 KB-- 2 May 1945
Special Orders 168 --384 KB-- 17 June 1945
Special Orders 171 --941 KB-- 20 June 1945

Historical Documents


History of the 509th Composite Group--4.93 MB-- History of the Group 1944- -----
Letter Authorizing Atomic Bombing of Japan--120 KB-- July 25, 1945 Letter from The War Department to General Spaatz authorizing the atomic bombing of Japan

Historical Photos


Flag Raising on Hill 1700--57.2KB-- This photo of the flag raising occurred on Hill 1700 in Feb. 1945 during the Luzon Philippines campaign, Bamban hills battle. The events in the Philippines indisputably represents the ultimate dedication and sacrifice that is the hallmark of the American spirit. Although the Iwo Jima flag raising has been herald and memorialized in monument and film. This hard fought victory and flag raising has been to date virtually unnoticed. The Local Government in The region has requested the foundation to identify the participants of this battle , and the identity of the flag raisers so they can erect a proper monument on the site. The 185th regiment who fought this hellacious battle fortunately has a well documented archive. The narratives and participants were easy to identify. The flag raisers on the other hand have not been so easy. Having hit a dead end in the archives I am asking for the assistance and input from the media and fellow historians. With the assistance of the media broadcasting this photo I am confident a veteran of the campaign will come forward and solve this mystery. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated to properly honor this forgotten flag of our fathers. Please direct the responses to jerbeser@beserfoundation.org or 443-844-7197
USS Deuel --51.0 KB-- San Francisco 1945
Nagasaki Bomb --28.7 KB--
Hiroshima bomb--44.5 KB--
Col. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr. --118 KB--Photo taken just before takeoff for Hiroshima
Hiroshima August 1945 --71.0 KB--Hiroshima after the August 3, 1945 raid
Nagasaki August 1945--65.2 KB--
Enola Gay --44.4 KB-- Enola Gay on Tinian Iland 1945
Bunker on Tinian --159 KB--
Atomic Bomb Assembly Building on Tinian August 1945--99 KB--