In light of this shared history, the 6th ARW and the community partners who donated believed Whiteman AFB would be the best home for the painting. Tibbets flew her to Kwajalein Island in the Marshalls but then found himself and his. The Enola Gay was one of several aircraft to display the markings of the 6th BG including their circular “R” tail code. After undergoing modifications, the Enola Gay was ready to join the tests. The 509th CG wanted to draw attention away from itself and replaced its distinctive markings with those of the other bomb groups. Before being captured by American forces, Tinian was a colony of the Japanese Empire and it was suspected that the local population may have been transmitting intelligence about American forces on the island. The 6th ARW traces its lineage to the 6th Bombardment Group which was assigned to Tinian at the same time as the 509th CG. The Enola Gay, a Silverplate B-29 Superfortress, was formerly assigned to the 509th Composite Group. 1, 2021, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.Ī community partner originally donated the painting, which depicts the Enola Gay being prepared for the first atomic bombing mission, to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, before it was transferred to the 509th Bomb Wing. 509th Bomb Wing leadership put 'The Peacemakers', a painting by John Shaw, on display on Dec.
