The attack marked the beginning of the end of World War II. Throughout his life, Tibbets seemed more troubled by other people’s objections to the bomb than by him having led the crew that killed tens of thousands of Japanese in a single stroke.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Paul Tibbets, who etched his mother’s name – Enola Gay – into history on the nose of the B-29 bomber he flew to drop the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, died Thursday after six decades of steadfastly defending the mission.