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USA Funds Bombs
In 1940, the U.S. government began funding its own atomic weapons development program, which came under the joint responsibility of the Office of Scientific Research and Development and the War Department after the U.S. entry into World War II. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with spearheading the construction of the vast facilities necessary for the top-secret program, codenamed “The Manhattan Project ” (for the engineering corps’ Manhattan district). -
Pearl Harbor
This was a suprise attack lead by the Japanese government on Pearl Harbor, which is a U.S. Naval base. This attack lead the U.S. into the war. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. -
Capt. Bock & B-29
Bockscar, somtimes called Bock's Car, is a U.S Air Force B-29 Bomber. It is the bomber that dropped the second and last nuclear weapon on Nagasaki. It's original target was Kokura, but there was to many clouds, so the bomber headed over to Nagasaki -
Truman Leaves
Truman leaves for Postdam on the Augusta accompanied by Secretary of State Byrnes. The U.S.S. Augusta was heading to Postdam, Germany. The big three, Stalin, Churchill and Truman, were going to have a conference. -
Manhatten Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first atomic bombs during World War II. It was lead by the U.S with the help of Canada and the U.K.The Manhattan Project began modestly in 1939, but grew to employ more than 130,000 people and cost nearly US$2 billion. -
"Gadget" Detonated at Trinity
Gadget was the outcome of the 'Manhatten Project', the predecessor of "Fat Man", and the first atomic bomb made in the United States of America. Gadget was a plutonium-cored-implosion bomb, and tested at the Trinity Site in New Mexico. For the test, Gadget was lifted to the top of a 100ft bomb tower. The calculations for the device were for it to yeild anywhere from 0 to 20 Kilotons of TNT. The actual test yeilded the aftermath to be worth that of 18 Kilotons of TNT. -
The Petition
The petition, sometimes called the "Scientist's Petition", was created by a physicist named Leo Szilard. It's purpose was to convince President Truman not to launch the atomic bombs on Japan. The scientists who worked on the creation of "Gadget", "Fat Man", and "Litttle Boy", believed that launching the atomic bombs was against all moral values. -
Truman Approves
The next is a snipit from August 5, 1963, when Truman is responding to Mr. Kupcinet’s column in the Chicago Sun-Times about the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan.
"I knew what I was doing when I stopped the war that would have killed a half million youngsters on both sides if those bombs had not been dropped. I have no regrets and, under the same circumstances, I would do it again." -
Truman's Diary
President Truman wrote in his diary about the 'Manhatten Project' being a succes, and decidig to "tell Stalin about it". He goes on to explain that Churchill (whom he refers to as P.M.) was told of a message from the "Jap Emperor" asking for peace. He writes he believes the "Japs" will "fold up" before Russia "comes in" and especially when "Manhatten" (the atomic bomb) is over their homeland. -
Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration was a proclamation defining the terms of Japan's surrender to the US in World War II. This document was created by the following people: Harry S. Truman, the President of the United States; Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; and Chiang Kai-shek, the Chairman of the Nationalist Government of China. This document requested the "uncondition surrender" of the Japanese government. -
Bomber Left Tinian
Pilot Captain Frederick C. Bock Left Tinian heading for the Japanese town of Nagasaki at 3:40am. The flight commander, Major Sweeney, had found that one of the fuel pumps wasn't working. So, in addition to the 10,000 lb bomb the ship carried, they lugged around an extra 800 gallons of aviation fuel. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
On August 9th, 1945, the atomic bomb named “Fat Man” was detonated on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. In less than 10 seconds, everything within 2.3 by 1.9 miles was obliterated.1960, the Japanese put the amount of deaths at 20,000 and wounded at 50,000. Later, the Japanese changed the death toll from the Nagasaki bombing to 87,000 people. -
Japan's Surrender
On this day, Japan formally signed documents of surrender. The following is a snipit from the United States Strategic Bombing Survey.
"...and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated."
