American and British scientists had won a big victory over the Japanese. Nishina, in a letter to an associate, wrote that if the Americans had actually dropped an atomic bomb, it was time those involved in the Japanese bomb programme including himself "should commit harakiri." The time of the suicide was to be decided on his return from Hiroshima. The "Atomic Bomb Countermeasures Committee" of the Japanese War, Navy, and Home Ministries denied the possibility of an atomic bomb and merely sent physicist Yoshio Nishina to find out what kind of bomb had destroyed Hiroshima. In my mind's eye, like a waking dream, I could still see the tongue of fire at work on bodies of men. 5 The mushroom cloud was visible from the plane for 373 miles in its return flight. The plane made three circles around Hiroshima taking photographs and completing experiments while shock waves from the blast were bouncing it higher. As ethereal glow illuminated the cockpit of the plane and the crew had "a peep into hell". The temperature at the core of the glowing fireball was 50,000 degrees.
Hiroshima time on August 6, 1945, having travelled a distance of about six miles, the bomb exploded over Dr Shima's clinic. After the bomb was finally ready for use, Tibbets addressed the crew: "We are carrying the world's first atomic bomb." It was inscribed with messages to the Japanese people, some of them obscene. 4 As he was the only man on the flight who knew every detail about the bomb, he arranged for a pistol to be used against him in case of any danger of his being captured by the Japanese. on the way to Hiroshima, he inserted the explosive charge and the detonator into the bomb. Fearing the possibility of a crash during the takeoff, Captain William Parsons decided to defy explicit orders by not arming the bomb before the takeoff. The take-off weight of the plane was 150,000 pounds, including 9,000 pounds of the bomb and 7,000 gallons of fuel.
Unknown to his companions, he carried a small box containing twelve cyanide capsules that were to be distributed to the crew in case of any crisis during the flight over Japan. Tibbets, pilot of the plane that was to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, got his mother's name Enola Gay painted on the aircraft. Hiroshima was the primary target while Kokura and Nagasaki were the secondary and tertiary targets respectively. General Curtis LeMay, who later became the first commander of the US Strategic Air Command, brought with him to Tinian the order that set the date for the atomic strike as August 6, 1945. Some of these scientists flew in the accompanying planes that were virtually flying laboratories. Laboratory facilities along with scientists from the Los Alamos laboratory for the final assembly of the bombs and for the experiments to be conducted during the fateful missions were also set up. Paul Tibbets as its leader, was stationed on the island of Tinian in the Pacific. We shall go forward in trusting Thee knowing that we are in Thy care now and for ever. May the men who fly this night be kept safe in Thy care, and may they be returned safely to us. We pray Thee that the end of the war may come soon and once more we may know peace on earth. May they, as well as we, know Thy strength and power, and armed with Thy might may they bring this war to a rapid end. Guard and protect them, we pray Thee, as they fly the appointed rounds.
Minutes before the plane carrying the atomic bomb took off for its destination, Hiroshima, Chaplain William Downey recited in a richly resonant voice before the assembled crew a prayer that he had especially prepared for the occasion:Īlmighty Father, who wilt hear the prayer of those that love Thee, we pray Thee to be with those who brave heights of Thy heaven and who carry the battle to our enemies. This article discusses this major shift in policy and recalls the history of one of the most devastating events of our times. Originally intended as a deterrent to the German threat, the atomic bomb became an offensive weapon to be used to coerce Japan to surrender and bring World War II to an end. August as a month became synonymous with the Apoclypse of Hiroshima in 1945. And on August 9, 1945, the town of Nagasaki was subjected to the same horrible fate. Tibbets, dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima and gave the world "a peep into hell". Was the error the atomic bombing or Japanese militarism? On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay, piloted by Col. On the Hiroshima Cenotaph are inscribed the words: "Please rest in peace, for the error will not be repeated". A Monthly Journal of the IDSA August 2001 (Vol.