Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

PREDICTIONS OF CASUALTIES FROM BOTH THE ALLIES AND JAPAN NUMBERED IN THE MILLIONS

Another plan was in the works to hopefully bring the war in the Pacific to an end. Most Americans were probably never aware of it, but for the approximately 2,000,000 troops that were staged stateside, in Europe, on Pacific Islands, or aboard ships, they quietly remembered it as an experience they were blessed to have missed. Even before the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, plans were underway for the largest operation of the Pacific War, Operation Downfall, the Allied invasion of Japan. Predictions of casualties from both the Allies and Japan numbered in the millions. As a result, completion and successful testing of the atomic bomb moved that particular option to the front burner.

THE ALLIES DEMANDED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMED FORCES IN THE POTSDAM DECLARATION ON JULY 26TH, THE ALTERNATIVE BEING “PROMPT AND UTTER DESTRUCTION.” JAPAN IGNORED THE ULTIMATUM, AND THE WAR CONTINUED.

The final items of preparation for the operation came July 25th and 29th. The orders designated four targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, and Nagasaki, and ordered the attack to begin as early as the next week, weather permitting.

For the bomb code-named “Little Boy”, the Hiroshima bomb, the uranium-235 projectile and partially assembled bombs without the fissile components were delivered to Tinian on the cruiser USS Indianapolis. Three C-54s of the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, each with three of the uranium-235 target rings landed at North Field on July 28th.

FINALLY, TIBBETS TOLD THE MEN ABOUT THEIR MISSION TO BOMB JAPAN AND THE IMMENSELY DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF THE BOMB

Later that day, men of the 509th Composite Group assembled for a briefing. Finally, Tibbets told the men about their mission to bomb Japan and the immensely destructive nature of the bomb. Tibbets did not, however, reveal it was a nuclear weapon. At this briefing were the six crews of the 509th that would participate in dropping Little Boy and top officials from Washington.

THIS BOMB THAT YOU ARE GOING TO USE IS NOT AN ORDINARY BOMB. IT IS NOT A THOUSAND POUNDER, IT IS NOT A TEN-TON BLOCKBUSTER, THIS BOMB HAS THE STRENGTH OF TWENTY THOUSAND TONS OF TNT

“During your training period you were called upon to do many strange things,” Tibbets said. “There was a reason for all of that, because this bomb that you are going to use is not an ordinary bomb. It is not a thousand pounder, it is not a ten-ton blockbuster, this bomb has the strength of twenty thousand tons of TNT.”

The 509th were further informed that the mission would occur as soon as the weather cleared, what their targets were, and that the Japanese would not be expecting them. Three crews were to fly ahead to assess the weather and to relay the information to the bomb carrier. The other two crews were to accompany the bomb carrier as observation units. Finally, the men were told that until the mission occurred, they could not discuss the mission, even among themselves.

On August 5th, the weather cleared and the Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Tibbets, was maneuvered over a bomb loading pit and then taxied to Runway Able at North Field. At 2:45 AM on August 6, the B-29 named after Tibbets’ mother took off. The gun type fission weapon was armed by the weaponeers after takeoff.

ON AUGUST 6TH AT 8:15 AM HIROSHIMA TIME, THE LITTLE BOY BOMB WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA.

On August 6th at 8:15 AM Hiroshima time, the Little Boy bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The Enola Gay and her trailing escorts, The Great Artiste and Necessary Evil immediately began their evasive maneuvers. About 45 seconds later the bomb exploded at an altitude of 1968’ and the first shock wave overtook the aircraft a minute after the blast. It exploded with the energy of 15 kilotons of TNT. The crews arrived back on Tinian at 2:58 PM without incident, after about 12 hours in the air.