The "Enola Gay", piloted by Col. Paul Tibbets, commanding officer of the 509th Composite Group, carried the uranium gun-type atomic bomb "Little Boy" which was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
"Bockscar", piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney, carried the plutonium implosion-type atomic bomb "Fat Man" which was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.
"Big Stink" was designated as one of the 6 planes taking part in the Nagasaki mission. Its role was to carry the scientific observer team and photographic equipment and was one of the three B29s of the primary strike force. Piloted by Lt. Col. Hopkins, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 3:50 on the morning of August 9, 1945. Much controversy surrounds the fact that "Big Stink" failed to rendezvous with the other two B29s of the primary strike force prior to heading to Nagasaki.
"Full House" was designated as one of the 7 planes taking part in the Hiroshima mission. Its role was as a weather plane and flew to the Japanese city of Nagasaki to report on weather conditions. Piloted by Ralph Taylor, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 1:30 on the morning of August 6, 1945, a little more than an hour ahead of the "Enola Gay".
"The Great Artiste" was designated as one of the 7 planes taking part in the Hiroshima mission. It also took part in the Nagasaki mission, the only B29 to participate in both of the primary strike forces. Its role on both missions was to drop scientific instruments by parachute to measure bomb yield. It was piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney on the Hiroshima mission and by Capt. Fred Bock on the Nagasaki mission.
"Straight Flush" was designated as one of the 7 planes taking part in the Hiroshima mission. Its role was as a weather plane and flew to the Japanese city of Hiroshima to report on weather conditions. Piloted by Claude Eatherly, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 1:30 on the morning of August 6, 1945, a little more than an hour ahead of the "Enola Gay".
"Top Secret" was designated as one of the 7 planes taking part in the Hiroshima mission. Its role was as a "backup" to the "Enola Gay" and flew to the Island of Iwo Jima to be available if necessary. Piloted by Chuck McKnight, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 2:45 on the morning of August 6, 1945.
"Up An' Atom" was designated as one of the 6 planes taking part in the Nagasaki mission. Its role was an advance weather plane and was directed to fly to the Japanese city of Kokura and report back on weather conditions. Piloted by George Marquardt, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 1 hour ahead of those of the primary strike force on the morning of August 9, 1945.
"Laggin' Dragon" was designated as one of the 6 planes taking part in the Nagasaki mission. Its role was an advance weather plane and was directed to fly to the Japanese city of Nagasaki and report back on weather conditions. Piloted by Edward Costello, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 1 hour ahead of those of the primary strike force on the morning of August 9, 1945.
"Necessary Evil" was designated as one of the 7 planes taking part in the Hiroshima mission. Its role was to carry the scientific observer team and photographic equipment and was one of the three B29s of the primary strike force. Piloted by George Marquardt, it departed Tinian Island at approximately 2:50 on the morning of August 6, 1945.
