WI: the Enola Gay malfunctioned and bombed Honolulu instead?

[Chungus Maximus]

1. How would this impact the war? Would the government blame Japan for the attack?
2. If it was found out, what would become of Truman?
3. How would this effect the development of Hawaii?

 

[X_X]

1. How would this impact the war? Would the government blame Japan for the attack?
2. If it was found out, what would become of Truman?
3. How would this effect the development of Hawaii?

Hawaii wasn't remotely on the flight path.

 

[Chungus Maximus]

Hawaii wasn't remotely on the flight path.

That’s why I said malfunctioned. Imagine if the compass broke and he made a wrong turn and got to Hawaii.

 

[X_X]

That’s why I said malfunctioned. Imagine if the compass broke and he made a wrong turn and got to Hawaii.

If the pilot flew the wrong direction it would noticed at once and he would be told to come back. In the event that he somehow was unaware of this blunder and could not be contacted, he would be able to recognize that the waters and terrains don't match the distances and maps he received and proceed to fly back.

 

[Chungus Maximus]

If the pilot flew the wrong direction it would noticed at once and he would be told to come back. In the event that he somehow was unaware of this blunder and could not be contacted, he would be able to recognize that the waters and terrains don't match the distances and maps he received and proceed to fly back.

How would he notice?

 

[Clandango]

How would he notice?

I doubt he had radio silence, that, and he would probably wonder why so many American planes were about. I imagine the Americans would have at least a few in the air scouting, just incase.

 

[X_X]

How would he notice?

At the time compasses were not the only navigation tools at a pilot's disposal. Japan is way closer to his starting point, by several hours. When he sees no land after four hours in the air he'll know something is wrong.

 

[Dorknought]

A hand picked crew wouldn’t be so stupid.

 

[Winestu]

How would he notice?

I think he had a pretty good idea of what Pearl Harbor looks like.

 

[Chungus Maximus]

I think he had a pretty good idea of what Pearl Harbor looks like.
Also, and I have to say this, does anyone really think Paul Tibbets and crew were that stupid?

I came up with this thread when I took a wrong turn on the way to the gas station today.

 

[Winestu]

I came up with this thread when I took a wrong turn on the way to the gas station today.

Ahh, we’ve all done that.
But there’s a heck of a lot more equipment and training that goes into flying a B-29. Not to mention they other crew members would be asking why they’re flying in the wrong direction.

 

[Post]

How would he notice?

By looking at where the sun is.

 

[jsb]

I came up with this thread when I took a wrong turn on the way to the gas station today.

That’s why I said malfunctioned. Imagine if the compass broke and he made a wrong turn and got to Hawaii.

He runs out of gas?
2,526 km Distance from Tinian to Hiroshima
v
3,715 mi (5979 Km) Distance from Tinian to Honolulu

 

[Chungus Maximus]

He runs out of gas?
2,526 km Distance from Tinian to Hiroshima
v
3,715 mi Distance from Tinian to Honolulu

No, I took a wrong turn on the way to the gas station today, which got me thinking about wrong turns, so I made this thread.

 

[Chungus Maximus]

Ahh, we’ve all done that.
But there’s a heck of a lot more equipment and training that goes into flying a B-29. Not to mention they other crew members would be asking why they’re flying in the wrong direction.

Thanks. For some reason I was under the impression Tibbets did it alone.

 

[Quintuplicate]

No, I took a wrong turn on the way to the gas station today, which got me thinking about wrong turns, so I made this thread.

Shouldn't this go in ASB?

 

[Chungus Maximus]

Shouldn't this go in ASB?

Why?

 

[Post]

Why?

Because it is. The direction is so far off, that they'd notice they were flying in the wrong direction by looking at the stars and the sun.
It's kinda noticable that the sun sets right ahead, when you're expecting it to set on your right.

 

[jsb]

No, I took a wrong turn on the way to the gas station today, which got me thinking about wrong turns, so I made this thread.

But if they makes a wrong turn they have an extra 3453 Km to get to target I doubt they have the fuel even for a one way trip?

Thanks. For some reason I was under the impression Tibbets did it alone.

Enola Gay's crew on 6 August 1945, consisted of 12 men.[29][30] The crew was:

• Colonel Paul W. Tibbets Jr. – pilot and aircraft commander
• Captain Robert A. Lewis – co-pilot; Enola Gay's regularly assigned aircraft commander*
• Major Thomas Ferebee – bombardier
• Captain Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk – navigator
• Captain William S. Parsons, USN – weaponeer and mission commander.
• First Lieutenant Jacob Beser – radar countermeasures (also the only man to fly on both of the nuclear bombing aircraft)
• Second Lieutenant Morris R. Jeppson – assistant weaponeer
• Staff Sergeant George R. "Bob" Caron – tail gunner*
• Staff Sergeant Wyatt E. Duzenbury – flight engineer*
• Sergeant Joe S. Stiborik – radar operator*
• Sergeant Robert H. Shumard – assistant flight engineer*
• Private First Class Richard H. Nelson – VHF radio operator*

Source: Campbell, 2005, p. 30. Asterisks denote regular crewmen of the Enola Gay.(from wiki)

So at least 5 people would need to get it wrong?

 

[Chungus Maximus]

But if they makes a wrong turn they have an extra 3453 Km to get to target I doubt they have the fuel even for a one way trip?


Enola Gay's crew on 6 August 1945, consisted of 12 men.[29][30] The crew was:

• Colonel Paul W. Tibbets Jr. – pilot and aircraft commander
• Captain Robert A. Lewis – co-pilot; Enola Gay's regularly assigned aircraft commander*
• Major Thomas Ferebee – bombardier
• Captain Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk – navigator
• Captain William S. Parsons, USN – weaponeer and mission commander.
• First Lieutenant Jacob Beser – radar countermeasures (also the only man to fly on both of the nuclear bombing aircraft)
• Second Lieutenant Morris R. Jeppson – assistant weaponeer
• Staff Sergeant George R. "Bob" Caron – tail gunner*
• Staff Sergeant Wyatt E. Duzenbury – flight engineer*
• Sergeant Joe S. Stiborik – radar operator*
• Sergeant Robert H. Shumard – assistant flight engineer*
• Private First Class Richard H. Nelson – VHF radio operator*

Source: Campbell, 2005, p. 30. Asterisks denote regular crewmen of the Enola Gay.(from wiki)

So at least 5 people would need to get it wrong?

I didn’t know there were more people. I learned something today. Thank you.