Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Ask CNN: How Did the Enola Gay Get Her Name?

Aired August 06, 2001 - 07:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARV WILLIAMS, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA: My name is Marv Williams from Lincoln, Nebraska. And I would like to know how the Enola Gay got her name?

BRIGADIER GENERAL PAUL W. TIBBETS (RET.), ENOLA GAY COMMANDER: Well that goes back a little ways. The Enola Gay got her name because that was the name of my mother. And when I got the project, I thought that the airplane would go down in history. I wasn't thinking about myself, but I thought the airplane would. Because my father had been adamant in his position as father for years that I was going to be a doctor and I believed him so I -- you know, I played along with it real well. But then I got to the point where I had soloed an airplane and I said I don't want to be a doctor, I want these flying machines. My mother, without any particular concern, she said, "Paul, if you want to go fly, you're going to be all right."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com