Frederick Ashworth

Frederick Lincoln "Dick" Ashworth (24 January 1912 – 3 December 2005) was a United States Navy officer who served as the weaponeer on the B-29 Bockscar that dropped a Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan on 9 August 1945 during World War II.

Frederick Lincoln "Dick" Ashworth was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on 24 January 1912, the third child of Fred Ashworth, who worked as a draughtsman and tool designer for the United Shoe Machinery Corporation, and his wife Minnie.

He had two older brothers, Phil and Bentley.

The family moved to a farmhouse in Wenham, Massachusetts, in 1918.

Ashworth attended Center School in Wenham, and then, as Wenham had no high school of its own, Beverly High School, where he was president of the Student Council.

Too young and small for football, he participated in track and cross country running.

He graduated in 1928, and then entered Dartmouth College.

Ashworth decided that he wanted to go to Annapolis like his brother.

He sat and passed the examinations for an appointment from his local Congressman, but did not secure one of the Congressman's two appointments.

However, in August 1929, he was informed that one of the Congressman's appointments had been rejected for defective teeth.

Ashworth then entered Annapolis.

Phil graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1931, but died in a 1938 seaplane crash off Pearl Harbor.

A 1933 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, Ashworth commanded Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11), a Grumman TBF Avenger unit based on Guadalcanal that flew patrol, search, spotting, strike, and night mine-laying missions in support of the New Georgia Campaign in the Solomon Islands.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while carrying out these missions.

He then participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign as aviation officer on the staff of Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner's V Amphibious Force.

He graduated 134th in the class of 1933, and was commissioned as an ensign.

Ashworth's first posting was to the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48).

He married Nathalie Louise (Nan) Bliss from Peabody, Massachusetts in June 1935.

They had three sons: Frederick Jr., David and Stephen.

In 1936, he was accepted for aviator training, and reported to the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

He then held various positions including air photography officer for the United States Pacific Fleet.

In 1939, he volunteered for postgraduate study at Annapolis as an aviation ordinance engineer.

By the time Ashworth graduated in June 1942, the United States had entered World War II.

He became commander of Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11), a Grumman TBF Avenger unit based on Guadalcanal.

VT-11 pilots flew patrol, search, spotting, strike, and night mine-laying missions in support of the New Georgia Campaign in the Solomon Islands.

Ashworth was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal.

His Distinguished Flying Cross citation read: "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Frederick Lincoln Ashworth (NSN: 0-72354), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in aerial attacks as the commanding officer of a Torpedo Bomber Squadron against Japanese shore installations and shipping in the Solomon Islands area during the period from 26 April to 12 July 1943. During the nights of 18, 20 and 23 May, Lieutenant Commander Ashworth led his squadron in mine laying missions in the Kahili-Shortland area, South Bougainville. It was necessary that level flight at one thousand feet, constant speed and steady course be maintained for periods of time up to one and one-half minutes duration approximately one thousand yards from heavily-fortified Japanese positions.

His plane made the longest run on each mission and despite illumination by a concentration of enemy searchlights and heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire these extremely hazardous missions were carried out effectively.

He led two night anti-shipping missions in the same area on the nights of 15 and 28 May 1943.

On the night of 15 May, he personally by aggressive, daring, and exceptionally well planned attack scored a confirmed hit on an enemy cargo ship.

Lieutenant Commander Ashworth also participated in a daylight shipping raid in the same area which was pressed home despite considerable enemy aircraft opposition.

He led his squadron in seven successful and highly effective bombing raids against Munda, two against Rekata Bay, and one against Vila, all of which were strongly defended enemy positions.

His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Rotated back to the United States in June 1944, Ashworth became senior naval aviator at the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia.

In November 1944 he was assigned to the Manhattan Project, and supervised the testing of atomic bomb components at Wendover.

In February 1945, he travelled to Guam, where he met Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, and selected Tinian as a base of operations for the 509th Composite Group.

After the war he selected Bikini Atoll as the site for Operation Crossroads.

He was Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy in 1958, and served as commander of the United States Sixth Fleet from September 1966 to April 1967.

Remaining in the navy after the war, Ashworth rose to the rank of vice admiral in May 1966.

He retired from the navy in 1968, and died in 2005.