An exceedingly rare and desirable relic, a black Zippo lighter carried by Enola Gay pilot PAUL TIBBETS (1915-2008) on his historic August 6, 1945 mission in the B-29 bomber Enola Gay in which he delivered an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, devastating the city, killing up to 150,000 people and with the bombing of Nagasaki, effectively ending World War II. The lighter is a standard issue black 'crackle finish' Zippo with insert, serial number illegible due to the finish. The insert is no doubt original and a bit corroded, else very good with flint wheel still operable. Accompanied by a copy of Tibbets' original Sep. 8, 1989 letter of provenance in his hand on his personal letterhead (original lost by our consignor) reading in full: 'To Whom It May Concern: The enclosed black Zippo lighter, which was given to me by George Caron, my tailgunner, was carried by me when we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima (never used much). Regards Paul W. Tibbets'. Tibbets didn't use the lighter much as he preferred to smoke a pipe. At some point, Tibbets returned the Zippo with his letter of provenance to Caron as a keepsake. Caron in turn sold it to a Zippo collector who sold it to our consignor over thirty years ago. Any flown relics from the Enola Gay are excessively rare, if not unobtainable.