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On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by the US B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay". From the article:
"American bomber drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima
On this day in 1945, the United States becomes the first and only nation to use atomic weaponry during wartime when it drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Approximately 80,000 people are killed as a direct result of the blast, and another 35,000 are injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout.
Though the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan marked the end of World War II, many historians argue that it also ignited the Cold War.
Since 1940, the United States had been working on developing an atomic weapon, after having been warned by Albert Einstein that Nazi Germany was already conducting research into nuclear weapons. By the time the United States conducted the first successful test (an atomic bomb was exploded in the desert in New Mexico in July 1945), Germany had already been defeated. The war against Japan in the Pacific, however, continued to rage. President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end.
On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A blast equivalent to the power of 15,000 tons of TNT reduced four square miles of the city to ruins and immediately killed 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more died in the following weeks from wounds and radiation poisoning. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing nearly 40,000 more people. A few days later, Japan announced its surrender.
The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In the years since the two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, a number of historians have suggested that the weapons had a two-pronged objective. First, of course, was to bring the war with Japan to a speedy end and spare American lives. It has been suggested that the second objective was to demonstrate the new weapon of mass destruction to the Soviet Union.
By August 1945, relations between the Soviet Union and the United States had deteriorated badly. The Potsdam Conference between U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Russian leader Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill (before being replaced by Clement Attlee) ended just four days before the bombing of Hiroshima. The meeting was marked by recriminations and suspicion between the Americans and Soviets. Russian armies were occupying most of Eastern Europe. Truman and many of his advisers hoped that the U.S. atomic monopoly might offer diplomatic leverage with the Soviets. In this fashion, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan can be seen as the first shot of the Cold War.
If U.S. officials truly believed that they could use their atomic monopoly for diplomatic advantage, they had little time to put their plan into action. By 1949, the Soviets had developed their own atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race began."
"American bomber drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima
On this day in 1945, the United States becomes the first and only nation to use atomic weaponry during wartime when it drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Approximately 80,000 people are killed as a direct result of the blast, and another 35,000 are injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout.
Though the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan marked the end of World War II, many historians argue that it also ignited the Cold War.
Since 1940, the United States had been working on developing an atomic weapon, after having been warned by Albert Einstein that Nazi Germany was already conducting research into nuclear weapons. By the time the United States conducted the first successful test (an atomic bomb was exploded in the desert in New Mexico in July 1945), Germany had already been defeated. The war against Japan in the Pacific, however, continued to rage. President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end.
On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A blast equivalent to the power of 15,000 tons of TNT reduced four square miles of the city to ruins and immediately killed 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more died in the following weeks from wounds and radiation poisoning. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing nearly 40,000 more people. A few days later, Japan announced its surrender.
The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In the years since the two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, a number of historians have suggested that the weapons had a two-pronged objective. First, of course, was to bring the war with Japan to a speedy end and spare American lives. It has been suggested that the second objective was to demonstrate the new weapon of mass destruction to the Soviet Union.
By August 1945, relations between the Soviet Union and the United States had deteriorated badly. The Potsdam Conference between U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Russian leader Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill (before being replaced by Clement Attlee) ended just four days before the bombing of Hiroshima. The meeting was marked by recriminations and suspicion between the Americans and Soviets. Russian armies were occupying most of Eastern Europe. Truman and many of his advisers hoped that the U.S. atomic monopoly might offer diplomatic leverage with the Soviets. In this fashion, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan can be seen as the first shot of the Cold War.
If U.S. officials truly believed that they could use their atomic monopoly for diplomatic advantage, they had little time to put their plan into action. By 1949, the Soviets had developed their own atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race began."
American bomber drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima
Posted from history.com
WWII World War Two
World History
American History
Military History
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
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Last Enola Gay member remembers the bomb
"Dutch" Van Kirk, the last surviving crew member of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima reminisces. For more CNN videos, check out our YouTub...
Thank you, my friend SGT (Join to see) for reminding us that on August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the first of two atomic bombs on wartime Japanese homeland - code-named "Little Boy".
The Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber was named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets.
The US B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" dropped "a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A blast equivalent to the power of 15,000 tons of TNT reduced four square miles of the city to ruins and immediately killed 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more died in the following weeks from wounds and radiation poisoning. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing nearly 40,000 more people. A few days later, Japan announced its surrender."
Last Enola Gay member remembers the bomb
"Dutch" Van Kirk, the last surviving crew member of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima reminisces."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZnRD3-Sg2I
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski Cpl Joshua Caldwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSLLTC Bill Koski MSG Brad Sand SGM Steve Wettstein SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"A1C Ian Williams
The Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber was named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets.
The US B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" dropped "a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A blast equivalent to the power of 15,000 tons of TNT reduced four square miles of the city to ruins and immediately killed 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more died in the following weeks from wounds and radiation poisoning. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing nearly 40,000 more people. A few days later, Japan announced its surrender."
Last Enola Gay member remembers the bomb
"Dutch" Van Kirk, the last surviving crew member of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima reminisces."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZnRD3-Sg2I
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski Cpl Joshua Caldwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSLLTC Bill Koski MSG Brad Sand SGM Steve Wettstein SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"A1C Ian Williams
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI PO1 John Miller SP5 Robert Ruck PO3 Steven Sherrill SN Greg Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris RamseyCpl Joshua Caldwell SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley SPC Margaret HigginsLTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSGT Mark AndersonSFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSFC Jack Champion
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If nothing else, I appreciate the bombs as they show the destructive power of them.
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As horrible as the dawn of the nuclear weapon age was the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan
during WW II in 1945 brought about the surrender of the Imperial Japanese military. Without the
use of atomic weapons thousands of U.S. Marines and Army forces were staged and ready for the
go order to invade Japan. Japanese Imperial army defense forces would have fought to the death
to defend their homeland even more so than they did on Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan and other
areas when engaged in combat with U.S. troops. The numbers of both civilians and military deaths
during combat operations in Japan would have exceeded those deaths caused by the use of the
atomic weapons. The thousands of U.S. Army soldiers and Marines who were waiting on nearby
islands for the go order to invade Japan were glad to see the war end without the invasion order used.
My father was one of those U.S. Army soldiers waiting on a nearby island for the go order to begin
the invasion of Japan.
during WW II in 1945 brought about the surrender of the Imperial Japanese military. Without the
use of atomic weapons thousands of U.S. Marines and Army forces were staged and ready for the
go order to invade Japan. Japanese Imperial army defense forces would have fought to the death
to defend their homeland even more so than they did on Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan and other
areas when engaged in combat with U.S. troops. The numbers of both civilians and military deaths
during combat operations in Japan would have exceeded those deaths caused by the use of the
atomic weapons. The thousands of U.S. Army soldiers and Marines who were waiting on nearby
islands for the go order to invade Japan were glad to see the war end without the invasion order used.
My father was one of those U.S. Army soldiers waiting on a nearby island for the go order to begin
the invasion of Japan.
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