During World War II, what was the name of the American bomber aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in Japan?

Introduction / Context:
In the final stages of World War II, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Hiroshima bomb was the first use of a nuclear weapon in war. This question asks for the name of the bomber aircraft that delivered that first atomic bomb, an important piece of twentieth century military history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The bombing of Hiroshima occurred on 6 August 1945.
• The aircraft was a B 29 Superfortress bomber operated by the United States Army Air Forces.
• The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was nicknamed "Little Boy."
• Only one of the names listed refers to the bomber aircraft used in that mission.

Concept / Approach:
The main concept is distinguishing between the name of the bomb and the name of the aircraft. "Little Boy" was the code name of the uranium bomb, but the bomber that carried it was called "Enola Gay," named after the pilot's mother. Bockscar was the bomber used in the Nagasaki mission with the bomb "Fat Man." Other names such as "Memphis Belle" and "Spirit of St Louis" refer to different aircraft in other contexts. The correct answer is therefore the name of the Hiroshima mission bomber, not the bomb itself.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first atomic bomb used in war targeted Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. Step 2: Remember that this mission used a specially modified B 29 bomber named Enola Gay. Step 3: Recognize that the bomb itself was code named "Little Boy," which is not the aircraft. Step 4: Examine option a, Enola Gay, and connect it with the Hiroshima mission. Step 5: Note that option b, Bockscar, refers to the bomber that dropped the "Fat Man" bomb on Nagasaki. Step 6: Understand that option c, Memphis Belle, was a famous B 17 used in Europe, and option d, Spirit of St Louis, was the plane flown by Charles Lindbergh in a transatlantic flight. Step 7: Eliminate option e, Little Boy, because it is the bomb's name, not the bomber, and confirm that Enola Gay is correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
History references and museum exhibits consistently identify the Enola Gay as the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. They separately identify "Little Boy" as the bomb and Bockscar as the Nagasaki bomber. This clear distinction confirms that only option a answers the question correctly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b is wrong because Bockscar was used for the Nagasaki mission, not Hiroshima. Option c refers to a different bomber famous for European missions, not atomic bomb delivery. Option d refers to a civilian aircraft used in Charles Lindbergh's 1927 transatlantic flight. Option e is incorrect because "Little Boy" is the bomb's code name, not the aircraft's name.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse the bomb's name with the aircraft or to mix up the Hiroshima and Nagasaki missions. Another pitfall is choosing a familiar aircraft name such as Memphis Belle or Spirit of St Louis because it sounds well known. To avoid confusion, remember the pairing: Enola Gay with Hiroshima and Little Boy, and Bockscar with Nagasaki and Fat Man.

Final Answer:
Enola Gay