Van Kirk, who had also familiarised himself with Hiroshima's landmarks, leaned over Ferebee's shoulder and confirmed he was correct. The bombardier, Major Thomas Ferebee, said, 'I got it,' announcing that the Enola Gay was over his aiming point, the T-shaped Aioi Bridge. At 8.15 am Japan time, it reached Hiroshima, a city of 250,000 and the site of an important army headquarters. When the Enola Gay reached Iwo Jima as the sun rose, it began an ascent to 31,000 feet. Theodore Van Kirk, navigator of the Enola Gay, pictured here in 2010.
