Charles Sweeney Signed Index Card (PSA)

"**Hand-Signed Index Card by WWII B-29 ""Bockscar"" Pilot Major General Charles W. Sweeney — Encapsulated by PSA/DNA Authentication Services**

Presented is a historically significant **hand-signed index card by Major General Charles W. Sweeney**, pilot of the **B-29 Superfortress ""Bockscar""**, the aircraft responsible for the atomic bombing of **Nagasaki, Japan** on **August 9, 1945**. This rare signature is **professionally encapsulated by PSA/DNA Authentication Services**, providing assurance of authenticity and preservation for generations.

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### **About Major General Charles W. Sweeney**

**Charles W. Sweeney (1919–2004)** was a highly decorated officer in the **United States Army Air Forces** and later the **U.S. Air Force Reserve**, renowned for piloting the second—and final—atomic bombing mission in wartime history. On **August 9, 1945**, he commanded the **B-29 ""Bockscar""** as part of the top-secret **509th Composite Group**, successfully delivering the atomic bomb **“Fat Man”** over **Nagasaki**.

Prior to the mission, Sweeney also participated in the **Hiroshima bombing** on **August 6, 1945**, piloting the instrumentation aircraft **“The Great Artiste.”** His intimate involvement in both missions makes him one of the few individuals to have directly taken part in both nuclear attacks that helped hasten the end of World War II.

Post-war, Sweeney remained active in the Air Force Reserve, rising to the rank of **Major General**. He later authored the book *“War’s End: An Eyewitness Account of America’s Last Atomic Mission,”* offering a detailed personal narrative of the events that changed the world.

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### **About the 509th Composite Group**

The **509th Composite Group**, commanded by **Colonel Paul W. Tibbets**, was a uniquely organized and specially trained unit of the United States Army Air Forces formed in **1944** for the purpose of delivering atomic bombs. As part of the **Manhattan Project**, the 509th was tasked with conducting the only wartime nuclear missions in history.

Operating from **Tinian Island** in the Pacific, the unit was responsible for the atomic bombings of **Hiroshima (Enola Gay, August 6, 1945)** and **Nagasaki (Bockscar, August 9, 1945)**. These missions ultimately played a decisive role in compelling Japan's surrender and ending the Second World War. The 509th’s contributions remain among the most consequential and controversial in the annals of military history.

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### **Item Details**

- **Signer**: Major General Charles W. Sweeney

- **Role**: Pilot, B-29 *Bockscar* — Nagasaki Mission

- **Unit**: 509th Composite Group

- **Format**: Hand-signed index card

- **Authentication**: **Encapsulated by PSA/DNA Authentication Services**

- **Condition**: Clean, well-preserved signature

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This exceptional signed and encapsulated artifact offers a direct connection to one of the most pivotal and historically profound moments of the 20th century. A cornerstone addition for collectors of **World War II memorabilia**, **aviation history**, or **Manhattan Project artifacts**, this piece commemorates the legacy of a man whose actions left an indelible mark on the world."

Due to the uniqueness of each item, please refer to the photos provided in this auction. We offer high resolution images of each item rather than a written description of condition.

This item is being shipped from the Pristine Auction warehouse.