Thomas F. Costa, 87, World War II elite bombardier

Thomas F. Costa, an Army Air Forces bombardier during World War II who was a member of the elite squadron charged with dropping the atomic bomb over Japan, died Friday of kidney disease. He was 87.

Costa's plane, a Silverplate B-29 Superfortress Victor No. 84 named Some Punkins, was one of only 15 designated to perform the top-secret mission. Some Punkins was in the same squadron as the Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb, over Hiroshima.

Costa told his family that his plane would have dropped a third atomic bomb had it been deemed necessary, according to Costa's daughter, Cathy Scholl of Duck Key, Fla., and Brookfield, Wis.

Some Punkins did drop the last non-atomic bomb of the war - on an arsenal factory in Nagoya. As the crew was flying back to their base, they were radioed the news the emperor of Japan had surrendered and World War II was over, Scholl said.

Costa, of North Merrick, a printing executive until he retired in 1983, talked frequently about his wartime experiences to students, veterans' groups and others, and was committed to preserving this piece of history.

"He'd be in the airport and he'd be wearing one of his hats and people would recognize it, and we'd have crowds surrounding him," Scholl said. "He talked about it every single day."

Costa and the other members of the 393rd Bombardment Squadron, 509th Composite Group, worked closely with the scientists developing the bomb.

The 509th trained in Wendover Field, Nev., and Batista Field, Cuba. They simulated bomb runs over Lake Tahoe and the Grand Canyon. It was during this training, on a visit to Salt Lake City, that Costa met his future wife, Jacqueline Cornelia, on a blind date. They were married for 50 years. She died in 1997.

Costa was extremely proud of his World War II service, Scholl said, and believed the atomic bomb saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Marines, who were set to invade Japan.

"Whenever we appeared in places where I spoke or I MC'ed, I always said, 'There's the man that saved our lives right there,' and I would point to Tom," said Pat Cassetta of Uniondale, a Marine veteran who fought in Japan and was a friend of Costa's for 20 years.

Costa's daughter said he has donated historic memorabilia to the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale, and to the Smithsonian Institution. His medals include the Bronze Star and the Air Medal Award. In 1999, the 393rd Bombardment Squadron received the Outstanding Unit Award.

In addition to Scholl, Costa is survived by his daughter, Sandra Costa of Southampton; son-in-law, Thomas Scholl of Duck Key, Fla., and Brookfield, Wis.; and two grandchildren. His fiance, Laura Hoffman of Massapequa, died three years ago.

Visiting hours are Monday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Bellmore Funeral Home, 2340 Jerusalem Ave., North Bellmore.

A funeral Mass for Costa will be celebrated at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 720 Merrick Ave., North Merrick. Burial will follow in Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury.