On an early August morning in 1945, a Boeing Silverplate B-29 Superfortress took-off from the Tinian airfield amidst an unpublicized Hollywood-like atmosphere for the first atomic strike mission in the history of civilization. The young captain made his first notation, Time Takeoff 0245, as he again performed his duties to keep the pilot on course across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. So began Special Mission No. 13 with hopes to bring an end to the devastation and killing of millions that occurred during World War II. The aerial navigator’s name was Theodore Jerome Van Kirk, a self-described Huck Finn Susquehanna river rat from Northumberland, Pennsylvania. Certain of America’s entry into the war, twenty-year old Van Kirk entered the Army Air Corps in September 1941 with aspirations of being a pilot. Correspondence to and from home paint a portrait of hometown America, the experiences of an Air Cadet, the “war nerves” of a mother, and tales from the “greatest generation.” Van Kirk charts his course across four continents and airfields around the world. After fifty-eight missions risking life and limb aboard B-17s, he believes the war is over for him. But the plans for the top-secret mission and Van Kirk’s “yes” to a call from his former commander Paul Tibbets sets him on a journey to again accept the possibility of the ultimate sacrifice. Van Kirk served on the flying Fortresses during the early heavy bombing raids of German occupied Europe, the start of Operation Torch with General Eisenhower, attacks by enemy aircraft, tent living in the mountain regions of North Africa, and the unknown impact of the blast from the first uranium bomb. My True Course through Dutch’s letters home and memories of the exploits of his own “Band of Brothers” are a testament to the sixteen million at arms who fought and served to bring an end to the Second World War. " My True Course Northumberland to Hiroshima is the fascinating life story of Major Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk leading up to his being the navigator of the famed B-29 Superfortress crew that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan." ~ Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, USAF (Ret) Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders. "Author Dietz skillfully blends 'Dutch' Van Kirk's story into the Enola Gay saga adding unique insights into group commander Tibbets, the atomic missions, and their aftermath." ~ D. M. Giangreco, Fort Worth Leavenworth, Kansas - Foreword, My True Course . "What I enjoyed most was the letters from your (Van Kirk's) mom. I loved the little details like what was going on - the school's football scores, the cost of groceries, the Movietone news. The author puts this history in perspective. This is a piece of Americana!" ~ Chris Moore, Pittsburgh KDKA News Radio . This extensive biography of Dutch Van Kirk synthesizes the significant historical events taking place during his life to give readers an unusual insight into one man's thoughts and experiences leading up to an important role in helping to end World War II. ~ Col. Carol V. Glines, USAF (Ret), author of The Doolittle Raid: America's Daring First Strike Against Japan. Suzanne Simon Dietz is the historian for the Aero Club of Buffalo and the Town of Porter, New York. Dietz is a popular lecturer in Western New York on local history topics and German Prisoners of War held at Fort Niagara, a major POW camp during World War II.The Niagara Aerospace Museum published her latest work, Buffalo's Consolidated Aircraft , and she is currently working on a manuscript for Old Fort Niagara Publications.The author's father, the late John Victor Simon, served during the Second World War as a scout in the United States Army with the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Division.