we have spent thousands of man hours and significant funds during the past decade to conserve and restore the Enola Gay to its original condition.'Ībout the exhibit, he added, 'Its basic, explicitly stated posture is that while the use of atomic weapons is hardly something our nation would want to celebrate, neither is it anything for which we should apologize. 'The Enola Gay is, without question, one of the Smithsonian Institution's and the Air and Space Museum's premiere artifacts. 'I must state unequivocally that this is not an option,' he replied. Politely but firmly, Smithsonian Secretary Robert McC. 'In order to resolve this situation, I suggest the famed B-29 be displayed with understanding and pride in another museum.' She suggested three Kansas museums. 'It seems a travesty that when the Enola Gay is finally exhibited, it will be in a manner that many veterans find objectionable. 'For 44 years, the Smithsonian has been in possession of the historic plane, and in that time it has never been properly and prominently displayed,' she wrote.