The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

1. The Atomic Bombing ofHiroshima & Nagasaki Hiroshima Nagasaki

2. The First Bomb Who What Where When Why How Pilot – Colonel Paul Tibbets B-29 Bomber – Enola Gay 8:15 a.m. Hiroshima was a big important city Explosion equivalent to 15,000 lbs. of TNT Hiroshima, Japan August 6, 1945 United States 9,700 lbs. uranium bomb – Little Boy Military Center

3. The Damage: closest to explosion Burned clothing onto bodies Died instantly Burned shadows of bodies on the walls Bodies turned to black char Mushroom cloud Blinding white light Birds burst into flames Sudden overwhelming heat 9 out of 10 people a half mile or less from the blast died within minutes

4. Firestorms Flash, heat, boom! Less than 10% of buildings had no damage The Rest of the Damage Glass shattered 12 miles away ½ of the city’s population = dead or injured 4.5% suffered leg fractures Those who could not walk were burned in firestorms

5. Government did not know what happened Help Japanese staff officer sent to check the city from overhead Slow Communications ended suddenly at 8:16 a.m. Power Restored on August 7th 16 hours later help began to arrive Aftermath Rail service resumes on August 8th 100,000 overall Deaths Effects seen several days later; death rates climb 70,000 from initial blast Radiation Sickness

6. July 26th - Potsdam Declaration demands Japan surrender August 6th – President Truman announces U.S. dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima August 8th – Soviet Union declares war on Japan August 9th – American aircraft shower leaflets over Japan “We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2,000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission. This awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate. We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell on that city.” Timeline of Events

7. The Second Bomb Who What Where When Why How Pilot – Captain Kermit K. Beahan B-29 Bomber – Bock’s Car 11:02 a.m. Bad weather covered primary target - Kokura Break in clouds allowed sight of the stadium Nagasaki, Japan August 9, 1945 United States Plutonium Bomb – Fat Man 21 Kilotons = 40% larger than Hiroshima bomb Kokura = massive collection of war industries • Problems: • Weather • Malfunction made reserve fuel inaccessible • Antiaircraft fire • Running out of fuel Nagasaki = 2nd target; industrial center & major port

8. Deaths Surrender 200,00 people in city 40,000 from initial blast Emperor of Japan overrules military leaders & forces (almost) unconditional surrender 70,000 overall August 10, 1947 Aftermath Less than in Hiroshima Hills & other geography created barrier Mitsubishi Steel & Arms Works 2 primary targets – bomb lands between them Mitsubishi-Urakami Torpedo Works Damage

9. Should we have dropped the bombs? Yes or No? Why or Why Not?