Jim Bridges, lives quietly in Oak Orchard, but his life wasn’t always so peaceful.

During World War II, Bridges was hand-picked to be one of the 1,700 serving in the 509th, the first atomic bombardment division.

Bridges served as ground crew for the 393rd bomb squadron. That crew flew the Enola Gay, which dropped “Little Boy,” the first atomic bomb ever used in war. The bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945, just before the end of the war.

“I was either lucky or unlucky enough to be part of this elite outfit in World War II,” said Bridges. “We knew nothing about what was going on. We think we did the right thing … we think we ended the war. But, it doesn’t seem like it did much good.”

Bridges said returning to civilian life after World War II wasn’t that hard for him. He left the service in 1945 and returned to Pennsylvania to be with his first wife. As the years passed, those who served on the Enola Gay kept in touch on and off, mostly because of the pilot, Paul Tibbets, said Bridges.

Bridges grew up in Tennessee and joined the Army Air Corps when he was 19 years old. He was fresh out of school and felt honored to be chosen by Tibbets for the bombing mission. Tibbets wrote several books about the war.

Today, much of the sensitive information about the first atomic bombardment has been declassified, so the remaining surviving members of the crew are able to talk about it, said Bridges. They have also been on hand at air shows to sign autographs.

“We all were decorated for (our service),” said Bridges. “When we were working on it, we couldn’t talk about it. But, now, we’re talking about it more.”

Bridges said he was proud of his service and the men who served the Enola Gay.

“We were the only outfit (in World War II) that went overseas and came back with the same number of men and the same number of airplanes,” said Bridges. “We didn’t lose a man and we didn’t lose a plane.”

Back in the states, Bridges worked as an estimator for a construction company.

“At age 70, I said that’s enough and I quit,” he said.

Once retired, Bridges enjoyed coming to Delaware to fish. His first wife passed away in the 90s Portrait
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and so he spent a lot of time camping and fishing in the Cape Region. He met his current wife, Viola, at Holly Lake Campground.

After moving permanently to Sussex County, Bridges still enjoys fishing and volunteers for the Midway Lions. He served as president in 2005 and Viola is currently serving as secretary.

Bridges was recognized by the Lions with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. It’s the highest award a Lion can get, he said.

“For my age, I think I’m doing pretty good,” he said. “I think I’ve come a long ways from a little farm boy from Tennessee.”

Contact Rachel Swick at: rswick@capegazette.com