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Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Date: 
Thursday, July 27, 2017
By the end of 1945, the atomic bombings of Japan had killed an estimated 140,000 people at Hiroshima and 74,000 at Nagasaki. Often lost in those numbers are the experiences of the survivors, known as the hibakusha.

Gallery

  • The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945

    The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945

  • A watch recovered from Hiroshima, stopped at 8:15 AM, the moment of the bombing

    A watch recovered from Hiroshima, stopped at 8:15 AM, the moment of the bombing

  • The financial district in Hiroshima after the bombing

    The financial district in Hiroshima after the bombing

  • The Nagasaki Peace Statue

    The Nagasaki Peace Statue

  • Paper cranes in Hiroshima

    Paper cranes in Hiroshima

The Franck Report

Date: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Soon after the Interim Committee concluded that the atomic bomb should be used as soon as possible against Japan, a group of scientists led by physicist James Franck founded a committee to study the question of the bomb's use.

216th Army Air Forces Base Unit

Date: 
Friday, November 4, 2016
The 216th AAF served a crucial role in the Manhattan Project by helping to design and drop test bombs at Wendover Airfield, Utah.

Gallery

  • "Thin Man" plutonium gun design casings at Wendover

  • Col. Clifford Heflin and Col. Paul Tibbets

    Col. Clifford Heflin and Col. Paul Tibbets

  • A drop test "pumpkin" bomb. Photo courtesy of Scott Muselin.

    A drop test "pumpkin" bomb. Photo courtesy of Scott Muselin.

  • By the AN-M26 Canister.

    By the AN-M26 Canister.

  • Blast Measurement Canister, on display at Hiroshima Museum.

    Blast Measurement Canister, on display at Hiroshima Museum.

  • AN-M26 Aerial Flare Parachute Canister.

    AN-M26 Aerial Flare Parachute Canister.

Surveys of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Date: 
Friday, June 2, 2017
Manhattan Project members participated in early missions to survey the two atomic bombing sites—Hiroshima and Nagasaki—after the Japanese surrender in August 1945.

Gallery

  • General Farrell

    General Farrell

  • Nagasaki before and after the bombing

    Nagasaki before and after the bombing

  • Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki​

  • Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  • Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  • Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  • Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Images from the Surveys in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Project Alberta

Date: 
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Project Alberta, also known as Project A, was a division of the Manhattan Project created to plan and carry out all the necessary steps for making the atomic bombs operational.

Gallery

  • Deak Parsons supervises loading of Little Boy onto the Enola Gay

    Deak Parsons supervises loading of Little Boy onto the Enola Gay

  • Deak Parsons's checklist for insert charges into Little Boy

    Deak Parsons's checklist for insert charges into Little Boy

  • Deak Parsons, William Purnell, and Thomas Farrell on Tinian

    Deak Parsons, William Purnell, and Thomas Farrell on Tinian

  • Norman Ramsey, Deak Parsons, and Thomas Farrell meeting on Tinian

    Norman Ramsey, Deak Parsons, and Thomas Farrell meeting on Tinian

  • Tinian Joint Chiefs (Purnell, Farrell, Tibbets, Parsons)

    Tinian Joint Chiefs (Purnell, Farrell, Tibbets, Parsons)

  • Frederick Ashworth and Donald Mastick. Courtesy of the Joseph Papalia Collection.

    Frederick Ashworth and Donald Mastick. Courtesy of the Joseph Papalia Collection.

  • The assembled implosion sphere for Fat Man ready to be placed in the casing

    The assembled implosion sphere for Fat Man ready to be placed in the casing

  • Tinian Island Aerial View

    Tinian Island Aerial View

USS Indianapolis

Date: 
Friday, June 3, 2016
The USS Indianapolis was a US Navy cruiser that delivered the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian Island. It was later sunk by a Japanese submarine in what became the worst naval disaster in US history.

Gallery

  • USS Indianapolis being repaired at Mare Island, CA

    USS Indianapolis being repaired at Mare Island, CA

  • USS Indianapolis, seen from the air, 1945

    USS Indianapolis, seen from the air, 1945

  • Color photo of USS Indianapolis survivors arriving in Guam

    Color photo of USS Indianapolis survivors arriving in Guam

  • USS Indianapolis, under command of Admiral Raymond Spruance at Saipan, 1944

    USS Indianapolis, under command of Admiral Raymond Spruance at Saipan, 1944

  • A chart of the final voyage of the USS Indianapolis

    A chart of the final voyage of the USS Indianapolis

Debate over the Japanese Surrender

Date: 
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
The debate over what precipitated the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II is a source of contention among historians. This debate has also figured prominently in the discussion of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Gallery

  • The Instrument of Surrender

    The Instrument of Surrender

  • The famous photo of a Times Square celebration of the Japanese surrender

    The famous photo of a Times Square celebration of the Japanese surrender

  • A color photo of the Japanese delegation for the surrender ceremony

    A color photo of the Japanese delegation for the surrender ceremony

  • The "Imperial Rescript" with the text of the Jewel Voice Broadcast

    The "Imperial Rescript" with the text of the Jewel Voice Broadcast

  • Incendiary attacks on Japan

    Incendiary attacks on Japan

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