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National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Thomas Farrell (1891 – 1967) was a major general in the US Army.

Farrell was hand-picked by General Groves to serve as his deputy, or as the Deputy Commanding General of the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer explained the physics of the bomb to General Farrell, and the two later watched the Trinity Test in a shelter 10,000 yards from the tower.

Farrell’s other responsibilities included briefing General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and serving on the Target Committee. Along with Admiral Purnell and Captain Parsons, General Farrell served as a Tinian Joint Chief — the informal title for those who made the decisions regarding the nuclear mission.

Following the atomic bombings, Farrell assembled a team to fly to Hiroshima and investigate the aftermath. Several days later, the team visited Nagasaki. While there, Farrell learned of the extensive Japanese preperations for the Allied invasion prior to the atomic bombings.

Farrel retired from active service in 1946.

Thomas Farrell's Timeline
1891 Dec 3rd Born in Brunswick, NY.
1944 Dec Appointed as Deputy Commanding General of the Manhattan Project by General Groves.
1945 Jul Arrived in Guam.

Farrell and Groves. Courtesy of Patricia Cox Owen Collection.

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

Parsons, Purnell, and Farrell.

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

Donna Reed & Thomas Farrell. Photo courtesy of the Patricia Cox Owen Collection.

General Farrell

Parsons to Oppenheimer Document, mentions those tasked to the Japan Atomic Bomb Damage Survey teams.

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