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Tibbets was supposed to receive a promotion as a colonel. In 1943, Tibbets was assigned as the assistant for bomber operations to Colonel LaurisNorstad. Eisenhower.Īfter flying 25 missions against targets in France, his bomb group was transferred to North Africa as a part of the 12th Air Force. Tibbets later led the Allied invasion of North Africa, and a few weeks later he flew the Supreme Allied Commander, Lieutenant General Dwight D. However, the mission was hailed a success, since it reached its target despite heavy bomber attacks. The mission was of poor bombing accuracy and resulted in a lot of civilian deaths. In September, Tibbets led the American raid of more than 100 bombers in Europe, attacking industrial targets. In August 1942, Tibbets flew the lead bomber Butcher Shop for the heavy bomber mission against a marshaling yard in Rouen, France. Armstrong Jr., who appointed Tibbets as his deputy. The group received intensive training from Royal Air Force and was commanded by Colonel Frank A. In 1942, his Squadron became the first heavy bombardment group of the Eighth Air Force and was deployed to England. In 1942, Tibbets became the engineering officer for the 29th Bombardment Group and was named the commanding officer of the 340th Bombardment Squadron of the 97th Bombardment Group. In 1941, Tibbets transferred to 9th Bombardment Squadron in Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia and was promoted to captain. In Fort Benning, Tibbets was promoted to the first lieutenant and served as a personal pilot for Brigadier General George S. The couple married in 1938 in a quiet ceremony and later had two sons. There he met his future wife, Lucy Frances Wingate. After graduation, Tibbets was assigned to the 16th Observation Squadron in Georgia. His primary training took place at Randolph Field in San Antonio. Tibbets enlisted in the army in 1937 in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Tibbets’ previous education qualified him for the Aviation Cadet Training Program. He became a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps. However, he attended the university only for a year and a half, since he changed his mind and decided to enlist in the United States Army. Tibbets was planning to become an abdominal surgeon and did his pre-med studies at the University of Cincinnati. During his time at the University, Tibbets began taking flying lessons at Miami Opa-Locka Airport. He then went on to study at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Tibbets attended the Western Military Academy and graduated in 1933. In 1927, Tibbets flew in a plane, piloted by barnstormer Doug Dais.ĭuring the 1920s, his father faced some business issues, and the family moved to Alton, Illinois. Tibbets was interested in flying since he was a boy after his mother payed one dollar to get him on an airplane at the local carnival. When Tibbets was eight years old, his family moved once again, to Miami, Florida. His father worked there as a confections wholesaler. When he was five years old, his family moved to Davenport, Iowa and later to Des Moines. was born on February 23, 1915, in Quincy, Illinois.