Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

509th Composite Group

First Atomic Bombardment

— Silverplate B-29 • 20th Air Force —

509th Composite Group Marker image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

1. 509th Composite Group Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The 509th Composite Group operated from the island of Tinian in the western Pacific from June to November, 1945.

On 6 August 1945, a B-29 of the 393rd Bomb Squadron dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, another B-29 of the squadron dropped the second atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki.

These missions were instrumental in Japan's decision to surrender, thus ending World War II.

Dedicated 8 August 1977

Erected 1977.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Man-Made Features • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is August 6, 1945.

Location. 39° 46.763′ N, 84° 6.751′ W. Marker is in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Marker (Memorial Wall #1, 028) is in the Memorial Park of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, with museum access off Springfield Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Spaatz Street, Dayton OH 45433, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 47th Fighter Squadron (here, next to this marker); AC-130A Spectre Gunship II

Memorial Wall #1 Detail image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr.

2. Memorial Wall #1 Detail

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(here, next to this marker); SSgt Forrest Ray Cope (here, next to this marker); 504th Bomb Group (VH) (here, next to this marker); Frederick W. Kaufmann, Colonel, USAF (here, next to this marker); USAF Pilot Class 1954E (here, next to this marker); Michael Slepecky, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Army Air Corps Flying Cadet Class 41-B (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Also see . . .
1. 509th Composite Group Association. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. 509th Composite Group Fact Sheet. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. 509th Composite Group History. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. 509th Composite Group at NARA. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
5. 509th Composite Group Flightline. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
6. 509th Composite Group Photos at AFHRA. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
7. The Enola Gay Controversy. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Memorial Wall #1 image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr.

3. Memorial Wall #1

8. The Enola Gay and the Smithsonian. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
9. 509th Bomb Wing Fact Sheet. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
10. NMUSAF Memorial Park Diagram. (Submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr.

4. NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 12, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on May 31, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on July 2, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on December 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.