This month is the 70th anniversary of the ending of World War II, and I’d like to preface this letter with an acknowledgment to all those who served in Operation Silver Plate, a secret project to drop two A-bombs on Japan.

On Aug. 9, 1945, on the tiny island of Tinian, a B-29 superfortress named the “Bockscar” took to the skies, piloted by the second and last military officer to command an atomic bombing mission. He was a 25-year-old major from Milton, Massachusetts, by the name of Charles W. Sweeney.

Maj. Sweeney had the distinction of flying both atomic bombing missions. He flew the instrumentation plane on the first mission, commanded by Col. Paul Tibbets, which bombed Hiroshima. Maj. Sweeney commanded and flew the second mission, dropping the only A-bomb left, on Nagasaki.

I knew Maj. Sweeney and last heard from him in 1997, reminding me of his book just out, “War’s End,” and sending me a copy. He said he retired as a major general, as did Paul Tibbets. Charlie died in 2004; Tibbets in 2007.

On July 28, 2014, Theodore Van Kirk, 93, the last member of the Enola Gay crew, passed away, also as have most of these great crews, who are sadly not remembered anymore.

To military historians, et al., I suggest you read Maj. Gen. Charles W. Sweeney’s book, “War’s End,” for an understanding of Silver Plate.

Frank Slason

Somerville