Review of Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb

An interesting mix of period war documentaries, modern Hollywood embellishments and scientific reality. My father was transferred into the 509th immediately after the war, having just been repatriated from being held as a POW in a Nazi Germany. He knew all the crewmen on both B-29's that dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As a top- level communications specialist, instructor and radio operator throughout the war, he knew well of the necessity of ending the war more quickly through this unique opportunity, which saved lives in at least a 10-to-1 ratio over the conventional strategies otherwise available. This film portrayed the conflicts, the scientific uncertainties, the emotional turmoil and the military decisions that brought WWII to a successful conclusion for the Allied powers. I was pleased overall with the film's treatment and respect for the U.S. military personnel, the civilian science advisers and even the Emperor-worshiping, fanatical Japanese militarists. One of the more emotional portions in the film was the reading of a letter of a soon to die kamikaze pilot by his older brother. Though portions were technically inaccurate, this film certainly is a discussion starter and should be viewed by anyone interested in that unique aspect of WWII and its effects through the Cold War and up to modern disarmament talks and de-nuclearization treaties. Though a little dry at times, this is a valuable film in historical context and a good yarn to boot.