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The Einstein Letter
Eintein's Letter
Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein raise their concerns regarding the potential of nuclear weapons, directly contacting Franklin D. Roosevelt. This leads FDR to form the Advisory Committee on Uranium to discuss the issue. http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Med.html -
Col. Leslie Richard Groves Takes Control
Col. Leslie Richard Groves is put in charge of the Manhattan Engineering District, quickly ordering Uranium and finding a production site. This is considered the true beginning of the Manhattan District. http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Med.html -
Los Alamos is Established
Key information... in 60 seconds
The Los Alamos, New Mexico research site is created for weapons development. The location was chosen by physicist Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Med.html -
Hanford Engineer Works Begin Construction
Col. Groves orders the construction of plutonium production facilites at Hanford Engineer Works in Washington state. http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Med.html -
Oak Ridge Construction Begins
Uranium enrichment facilities enter construction by the order of Col. Groves. The X-10 graphite reactor is also constructed to provide smaller quantities of plutonium. http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/pre-cold-war/manhattan-project/ -
Plutonium Gun Design Abandoned
The plutonium "gun" bomb design appears unworkable, and all resources are shifted to implosion type bomb design. http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Med.html -
Preparations Begin for Bomb Delivery
A group of seventeen B-29 Superfortress bombers are specially modified to deliver the forthcoming atomic weapons. http://www.pitt.edu/~sdb14/atombomb.html -
Project Alberta Recruits Flight Crews
Project Alberta, concerning the delivery of the weapons, begins assembling a task force, the 509th Composite Group. This team includes Assembly Officers, Observers and Weaponeers. http://www.mphpa.org/classic/CG/CG_09D.htm -
Uranium Gun Design Finalized
With the design completed, all that is left to do is create a delivery plan for combat usage. http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Med/Med.html -
The Atomic Bomb is Tested
The first complete atomic bomb test is performed in New Mexico's Jemez Mountains, ending with resounding success. The weapon is ready for use. http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb.htm -
"Little Boy" Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
Dropping the bomb
For the first time, a nuclear weapon is dropped on a target, devastating over 100,000 people. http://www.hiroshima-remembered.com/ -
"Fat Man" Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
The Bombing of Nagasaki
The second nuclear strike in history occurs, killing over 70,000 people in Nagasaki, Japan. http://www.hiroshima-remembered.com/
