Kermit Beahan, American colonel and pilot (b. 1918)

Raymond "Kermit" King Beahan: A Life Defined by Precision and War

Raymond "Kermit" King Beahan, born on August 9, 1918, and passing on March 9, 1989, carved out a distinguished career as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving in its predecessor, the United States Army Air Forces, during the tumultuous years of World War II. He became an indelible figure in history, notably as the bombardier on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress *Bockscar*, the aircraft that delivered the second atomic bomb to Nagasaki, Japan, on his 27th birthday, August 9, 1945.

Beahan's involvement in the dawn of the atomic age wasn't limited to Nagasaki; he had also participated in the first atomic mission over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. During that pivotal flight, he was part of the crew aboard *The Great Artiste*, an aircraft that itself carried a nickname linked to Beahan. His legendary precision, reputedly capable of "hitting a pickle barrel with a bomb from 30,000 feet," was one proposed origin for the moniker, while another playfully suggested his charm with the "fairer sex" was the inspiration. For the Hiroshima mission, *The Great Artiste* played a crucial role as the blast instrumentation support aircraft, collecting vital data on the unprecedented explosion.

Early Life and Forging a Combat Role

Beahan's journey began with an academic and athletic bent, attending Rice University in the 1930s on a coveted football scholarship. However, the darkening clouds of global conflict soon redirected his path. In 1939, he joined the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet, initially aspiring to be a pilot. Despite his aspirations, fate intervened, and he "washed out" of pilot training, instead finding his calling and excelling as a bombardier – a role that would ultimately define his legacy.

His early wartime service was anything but quiet. Beahan was assigned to the 97th Bombardment Group, where he bravely participated in some of the very first B-17 raids in Europe aboard the formidable Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. His combat record quickly accumulated, comprising 13 harrowing missions over Europe and 17 over North Africa. The dangers of these early campaigns were stark; Beahan survived being shot down and crash-landing an astonishing four times – twice in Europe and twice more in North Africa – a testament to his resilience and fortune. His records detail terrifying encounters:

Upon returning to the United States, Beahan channeled his extensive combat experience into teaching, becoming a bombing instructor in Midland, Texas, sharing his hard-won knowledge with the next generation of airmen.

The Atomic Missions: A Rendezvous with Destiny

The summer of 1944 brought a new, top-secret chapter to Beahan's already distinguished career. He was personally recruited by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets to join the elite 509th Composite Group, an organization specifically formed with one of the most consequential missions in history: to deliver the atomic bomb. This clandestine unit, operating under immense pressure and secrecy, was at the forefront of a technological and strategic leap that would forever alter warfare and geopolitics.

Beahan's role as bombardier on the *Bockscar* during the Nagasaki mission on his 27th birthday was fraught with tension. The primary target was obscured by clouds, threatening the mission's success and risking the unprecedented weapon being wasted or deployed inaccurately. However, Admiral Frederick L. Ashworth, who served as weaponeer on the mission, later credited Beahan with saving the entire operation. It was Beahan who, with his keen eye and expert judgment, found a critical opening in the clouds, enabling the crew to perform the required visual bombing of the city. The devastating impact was immediate and profound; an estimated 35,000–40,000 people were killed outright by the bombing of Nagasaki, bringing a swift and brutal end to the war in the Pacific.

Post-War Service, Retirement, and Reflections

Following Japan's surrender, Beahan returned to the United States as a crewman on the record-breaking 1945 Japan–Washington flight, commanded by Lieutenant General Barney M. Giles. His life, however, continued to be marked by close calls; he survived a crash of a B-25 at National Airport on August 19, 1946. He remained a dedicated officer in the Air Force until 1964, retiring honorably as a lieutenant colonel. After his retirement from military service, Beahan transitioned to civilian life, applying his technical acumen as a technical writer for the engineering and construction firm Brown & Root, where he worked until 1985.

In 1985, on the 40th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing, Raymond Beahan publicly shared his unwavering perspective on the atomic strikes. He stated unequivocally that he would never apologize for the bombing, recounting that he had even been thanked for his role by a group of 25 Japanese individuals. For Beahan, the bombing was "the best way out of a hell of a mess," a stark necessity to end a brutal global conflict. He expressed a profound hope that he would forever remain the last man to have dropped an atomic bomb on people.

Personal Life and Legacy

Raymond Beahan passed away from a heart attack in 1989 and was laid to rest at the Houston National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, the former Teresa Lavery of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Teresa had an intriguing prior connection to history; she was married from 1944–46 to renowned Civil War historian Shelby Foote, whom she met when Foote's artillery unit was deployed to Northern Ireland. Foote, despite spending six years in the U.S. military and preparing for the invasion of Japan, never saw combat. He was reportedly "devastated that World War II was over," a war that, ironically, was brought to its climactic end by Raymond Beahan, the future husband of his ex-wife. Beahan's life remains a powerful, complex chapter in military history, characterized by exceptional skill, unimaginable responsibility, and an enduring, unapologetic perspective on his role in shaping the modern world.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raymond "Kermit" King Beahan

Who was Raymond "Kermit" King Beahan?
Raymond "Kermit" King Beahan was a highly decorated career officer in the United States Air Force and its predecessor, the United States Army Air Forces. He is best known for his role as the bombardier on the *Bockscar*, the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, during World War II.
What was Beahan's role in World War II?
Beahan served as a bombardier throughout World War II. He participated in early B-17 bombing raids over Europe and North Africa, where he was shot down and crash-landed four times. Later, he was recruited into the top-secret 509th Composite Group and became instrumental in both atomic bombing missions, first as part of the instrumentation support crew for Hiroshima and then as the primary bombardier for Nagasaki.
What notable missions did Beahan participate in?
He participated in initial B-17 raids over Europe and North Africa. Most famously, he flew on *The Great Artiste* for the Hiroshima atomic mission as a blast instrumentation support aircraft, and then as the bombardier on the *Bockscar* for the Nagasaki atomic mission.
What was "The Great Artiste"?
*The Great Artiste* was a Boeing B-29 Superfortress that served as the blast instrumentation support aircraft for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The aircraft's nickname was purportedly a nod to Raymond Beahan's legendary bombing precision or his charming personality.
What happened to Beahan after the war?
After World War II, Raymond Beahan continued his service in the United States Air Force until his retirement in 1964 as a lieutenant colonel. He then worked as a technical writer until 1985. He remained steadfast in his belief that the atomic bombings were necessary to end the war, expressing this view publicly on the 40th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.