Big Stink

Big Stink was the nickname of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27353, Victor number 90) that served as the weather reconnaissance aircraft for the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during World War II. Assigned to the 509th Composite Group, its primary role on the mission was to observe and report on weather conditions over the primary target and secondary target. The aircraft is historically notable for its involvement in the final combat operation of the war and for later participating in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests.

Background and development

The 509th Composite Group was a specialized United States Army Air Forces unit created to deliver atomic bombs, operating under the command of Colonel Paul Tibbets. As part of its operational planning, the group designated specific B-29 Superfortress aircraft for distinct roles, including bombardment, instrumentation, and weather reconnaissance. Big Stink was a standard production B-29 modified for its reconnaissance duties, assigned to the 393d Bombardment Squadron. Its development was part of the broader Manhattan Project and the Silverplate program, which modified B-29s to carry atomic weapons. The aircraft's nickname, following the 509th Composite Group's tradition of naming planes, was chosen by its crew.

Operational history

On August 9, 1945, Big Stink, piloted by Major James I. Hopkins, took off from North Field, Tinian as part of the Nagasaki mission flight formation. Its orders were to proceed to the primary target, the city of Kokura, and report weather data to the weapons delivery aircraft, Bockscar. Due to poor visibility over Kokura Arsenal, the mission proceeded to the secondary target, Nagasaki. Big Stink arrived at the rendezvous point off the coast of Yakushima earlier than the other aircraft and, after a failed rendezvous, proceeded independently to Nagasaki. It observed the Fat Man detonation from a distance before returning to Tinian. After World War II, the aircraft was transferred to the Pacific Proving Grounds and participated in Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll in 1946, conducting aerial photography of the nuclear tests.

Design and specifications

Big Stink was a Boeing B-29 Superfortress of the B-29-36-MO block, manufactured by the Glenn L. Martin Company at its Omaha, Nebraska plant. As a weather reconnaissance variant, it retained the standard airframe and powerplant configuration, featuring four Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engines. For its mission role, it was equipped with specialized meteorological instruments and additional communication gear to relay weather data. Its defensive armament typically included remote controlled turrets with .50 caliber Browning machine guns, though these may have been removed or reduced for the atomic mission to save weight. Its Victor number 90 was prominently displayed for identification within the 509th Composite Group.

Cultural impact and legacy

While less famous than the Enola Gay or Bockscar, Big Stink holds a significant place in the historiography of the end of World War II. Its story is detailed in historical accounts of the Nagasaki mission, such as in the works of historian Richard Rhodes. The aircraft is often cited in discussions of the ethics of nuclear warfare and the operational challenges of the atomic bombings. It represents the crucial, though less celebrated, support aircraft role in complex military operations. The fate of the airframe after Operation Crossroads is not precisely documented, though many B-29s used in the tests were ultimately scuttled or sunk at Bikini Atoll.

See also

* 509th Composite Group * Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki * Bockscar * Enola Gay * Fat Man * Nagasaki * Operation Crossroads * Paul Tibbets * Silverplate * World War II

Category:Individual aircraft Category:Boeing aircraft Category:World War II reconnaissance aircraft of the United States Category:Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki