Sell or Auction Your Atomic Warfare is Born Signed by Ferebee Tibbets Van Kirk for Nearly $5,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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Sell Your Atomic Warfare is Born Signed by Ferebee Tibbets Van Kirk
Theodore Jerome “Dutch” Van Kirk (February 27, 1921 – July 28, 2014) was a navigator in the United States Army Air Forces, best known as the navigator of the Enola Gay when it dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Upon the death of fellow crewman Morris Jeppson on March 30, 2010, Van Kirk became the last surviving member of the Enola Gay crew.
Below is a recent realized price for an Atomic Warfare is Born signed by Ferebee Tibbets Van Kirk. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
Atomic Warfare is Born Signed by Ferebee Tibbets Van Kirk. Sold for nearly $5,000.
Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:
President Harry Truman Hiroshima Signed the Original Press Release Announcing the First Use of Atomic Weaponry — “…Hiroshima…may expect a rain of ruin from the air…”
Harry Truman Hiroshima signed press release, publicly announcing the very first use of the nuclear bomb, dropped upon Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. Document signed “Harry Truman” is the press release of Truman’s announcement, the gravest and most controversial decision of his Presidency, perhaps of any 20th century President. Four page press release reads in part, “Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese army base. That bomb had more power than 20,000 tons of T.N.T. It had more than two thousand times the blast power of the British ‘Grand Slam’ which is the largest bomb ever yet used in the history of warfare. The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet. With this bomb we have now added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. In their present form these bombs are now in production and even more powerful forms are in development. It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East. Before 1939, it was the accepted belief of scientists that it was theoretically possible to release atomic energy. But no one knew any practical method of doing it. By 1942, however, we knew that the Germans were working feverishly to find a way to add atomic energy to the other engines of war with which they hoped to enslave the world. But they failed. We may be grateful to Providence that the Germans got the V-1’s and the V-2’s late and in limited quantities and even more grateful that they did not get the atomic bomb at all. The battle of the laboratories held fateful risks for us as well as the battles of the air, land and sea, and we have now won the battle of the laboratories as we have won the other battles. Beginning in 1940, before Pearl Harbor, scientific knowledge useful in war was pooled between the United States and Great Britain and many priceless helps to our victories have come from that arrangement. Under that general policy the research on the atomic bomb was begun. With American and British scientists working together we entered the race of discovery against the Germans…We have spent two billion dollars on the greatest scientific gamble in history – and won…What has been done is the greatest achievement of organized science in history. It was done under high pressure and without failure…We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan’s power to make war. It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth…It has never been the habit of the scientists of this country or the policy of this Government to withhold from the world scientific knowledge…But under present circumstances it is not intended to divulge the technical processes of production of production or all the military applications, pending further examination of possible methods of protecting us and the rest of the world from the danger of sudden destruction. I shall recommend that the Congress of the United States consider promptly the establishment of an appropriate commission to control the production and use of atomic power within the United States. I shall give further consideration and make further recommendations to the Congress as to how atomic power can become a powerful and forceful influence towards the maintenance of world peace.”
Boldly signed “Harry Truman” on fourth and last page of document which measures 8″ x 12.5″. Some toning, staple mark to upper left corner, folds and small tears to edge. Overall in very good condition, housed in a blue cloth clamshell box. With a typed cover letter signed “S. Tucker” on National Press Club letterhead, presenting the document. Sold for $54,000.
Historic, Original Maps Enabling the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb — Japan & Asia Maps From the Tail Gunner’s, George Caron’s, Survival Kit that was on Board the B-29, Enola Gay on Her 3 Three Missions over Japan Including the One on August 6, 1945 to Hiroshima With Provenance
George Caron’s East China Sea “Silk” Maps, used in Caron’s survival kit flown on the Enola Gay atomic bomb mission to Hiroshima. Accompanied by a letter of provenance and signed photograph. These AAF Cloth Charts, often referred to as a “silk” maps, contain two maps on opposite sides of a large piece (32.25″ x 30.5″) of thin cloth. Both maps, identified as C-52 and C-53, are detailed colored maps of the East China Sea, including Japan, with a scale of 1:4,000,000 and dated February 1945. The map legend is in the upper right corner of map No. C-52. Silk maps were issued by the Army Air Force for the Aeronautical Chart Service and were usually carried by pilots and crew in their survival kits when they flew over enemy territory. Intended to be durable, they were actually made of semi-synthetic fiber rather than silk. These maps, belonging to Technical Sergeant Caron and flown during the Hiroshima mission, have been gently pinned into a foam board backing and are in fine condition. The maps are accompanied by a one page handwritten letter of provenance signed by George Caron. The letter, with Caron’s name and address stamped at the top, is dated 26 October 1982, and addressed to Paul J. Boyer of Lakewood, Colorado. This notarized letter reads, “Please accept this letter as certification that the silk map of the Western Pacific Ocean you acquired from me came from the Tail Gunner’s survival kit that was on board the B-29, Enola Gay on her three missions over Japan including the one on Aug. 6, 1945 to Hiroshima.” Also included is a color photo (5″ x 3.5″, affixed to blue backing) of the Enola Gay signed on the backing below the photo, “Best wishes, Paul / George R. (Bob), Tail Gunner.” A tremendous piece of Enola Gay memorabilia. Sold for $14,400.
Paul Tibbets Autograph Letter Signed — Explains Why He Chose the Name “Enola Gay”
Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. (23 February 1915 – 1 November 2007) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force. He is best known as the pilot who flew the B-29 Superfortress known as the Enola Gay (named after his mother) when it dropped Little Boy, the first of two atomic bombs used in warfare, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
General Paul Tibbets autograph letter signed, dated 21 February 1986. Handwritten letter, addressed to a Mr. Schwab, reads in part, “…I chose Enola Gay because I knew there would be no duplication of that name on any other bomber aircraft AND because she [Tibbet’s mother] was the only member of our family to support me in my desire to take up flying…She was never bothered by my naming the plane after her…Sincerely / Paul W. Tibbets”. Letter, measuring 7.25″ x 7.5″ is on two pages with rounded edges and one light fold. Near fine. Sold for $1,500.
Hiroshima Newspaper
7 August 1945 “New York Times” announcing “First Atomic Bomb Dropped on Japan” in a 2″ high headline. Printed the day after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the history-altering event unfolds in myriad articles. Headlines include “New Age Ushered”, “‘Impenetrable’ Cloud of Dust Hides City After Single Bomb Strikes”, “Atom Bombs Made in 3 Hidden ‘Cities’” and “Steel Tower ‘Vaporized’ In Trial of Mighty Bomb”. Section one only, runs 38pp. and measures 16.5″ x 22.5″. Toning, some chipping at edges and paper loss at seam. Very good. Sold for $1,954.
Morris Jeppson Original Drawing of the Bomb Explosion Above Hiroshima
Morris Jeppson signed and initialed original drawing of the Little Boy bomb detonation as the “Enola Gay B29 leaves after bombing from 31,000 feet.” Jeppson draws the “Mushroom Cloud” which appears above “Destruction and Fire” and “Hiroshima.” Clearly signed with rank at right margin, adding “Weapon Test Officer / Hiroshima Mission.” Also initialed at bottom right of drawing “MRJ.” 11″ x 8.5″ drawing is in fine condition. Accompanied by photo of Jeppson as he illustrates the mission. An important piece of Enola Gay memorabilia and Hiroshima memorabilia. Sold for $1,750.
Original Program From the WWII Japanese Surrender Ceremony — 2 September 1945 on the USS Missouri
Informal ”Surrender Ceremony” program from the WWII Japanese surrender, listing the ”Schedule of Arrivals” and protocol for the military officers attending the event aboard the USS Missouri. Typed one page document is dated 2 September 1945, and features detailed activities from the hours of 0730 to 0840. Measures 8” x 13”. Toning and folds as well as staple holes and various small closed tears. Very good. From the estate of U.S. Naval Commodore Jasper Acuff, who attended the event. Sold for $6,250.
WWII Japanese Surrender ceremony document owned by Commodore Jasper Acuff, who was aboard the USS Missouri during the ceremony. Five-page document lists the schedule of arrivals and protocol for military representatives, as well as a schedule of events and changes in the event of rain. Internal military document is dated 2 September 1945. Pages measure 8” x 13”, stapled together. Toning and folds as well as slight creasing and small tears to edges. Very good. From the estate of WWII Commodore Jasper Acuff. Sold for $4,868.
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FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Atomic Warfare is Born signed by Ferebee Tibbets Van Kirk that is for sale, please email your description and photos of your Atomic Warfare is Born signed by Ferebee Tibbets Van Kirk to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).