The first A-bombs - now you can see them.

PALADIN85020

PALADIN85020

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The photographs you will see here are of the final assembly of the very first A-bombs which were dropped on Japan 69 years ago this month. You will also see the first one loaded into the B-29 "Enola Gay." The photos were once top secret, and have now been declassified. It's a fascinating glimpse into one of the pivotal events in modern history. A must-see.

John

http://www.alternatewars.com/Bomb_Loading/Bomb_Guide.htm
 
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Awesome pics that need to be shown. Yes they might have been classified for years and that was for National Security. Now that said they are still awesome. Thank you
 
Fascinating photo's of history. They expected a minimum of the tens of thousands of casualties if a invasion were to take place. No mention that the bomb was not fully armed. Navy Capt. Deak Parsons assisted by Lt. Morris Jeppson, finished the assembly and armed the bomb in the bomb bay after takeoff.

Interesting read about the invasion plans here.
"Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan during World War II"

How the Atomic Bomb Saved 4,000,000 Lives
How the Atomic Bomb Saved 4,000,000 Lives
 
Yes, Those A bombs saved a lot of American & Japanese lives. Maybe even mine, as I would probably have been in the invasion troops. I did have the experience of watching the first A Bomb test in Nevada in late Jan. 1951, fortunately from about 50+ miles away in Death Valley, and even at that distance it was very impressive. The Army gave us a plastics sheet to "protect" us from radio active dust, etc. It was early in the AM, still dark, but the whole world was brightly lit up in all directions for about 10 seconds, it seemed, before the ground started shaking. Ed.
 
opoefc said:
Yes, Those A bombs saved a lot of American & Japanese lives. Maybe even mine, as I would probably have been in the invasion troops. I did have the experience of watching the first A Bomb test in Nevada in late Jan. 1951, fortunately from about 50+ miles away in Death Valley, and even at that distance it was very impressive. The Army gave us a plastics sheet to "protect" us from radio active dust, etc. It was early in the AM, still dark, but the whole world was brightly lit up in all directions for about 10 seconds, it seemed, before the ground started shaking. Ed.
Click to expand...

I also saw one of those Nevada A-bomb tests. When I was kid, my parents and I were driving to San Diego from Phoenix. We left in the wee small hours to avoid the heat, as it was summer and this was before most folks had AC in their cars. It was just before daylight when we hit the AZ-CA state line. To our north the sky lit up brightly. It was like a second sun was breaking, except it only lasted for a few moments. We knew there would be tests, and we knew right away we had just witnessed one. It was both beautiful and frightening. It's one of those things you never forget.

In later years, when I was in the Army as a young officer, I was assigned to classified work in atomic weapons training, logistics and security. I never imagined when I was a kid that I would get to know nukes on a more intimate basis. I was on active duty when the Cuban Missile Crisis developed. Even today I have nightmares about an atomic attack after that close scrape with universal annihilation that a lot of people knew nothing about at the time. I did, and it was absolutely chilling. Many of the people I served with then were certain that the balloon was going to go up, and we were all mentally preparing to kiss our rear ends goodbye. Luckily, good sense prevailed way above my pay grade with both the Russians and the U.S. If that had not been the case, the survivors, if any, would probably still be sifting ashes.

John
 
I have tended to forget how many millions of Japanese lives these two bombs saved as well. So many thousands died from the blasts and, afterward, from the radiation poisoning, and it was a human tragedy of horrific proportions -- as were the firebombings of Tokyo and other major Japanese cities where the war also was waged against civilians and caused more deaths than the atomic bombs. War is, well and truly, hell. Still, the sacrifice of those people's lives turned out to be a saving one for millions of their countrymen, and Japan has been a solid ally of ours since those terrible times.

But for the dictatorial leadership of a demented and power-crazed few, none of it would have had to happen. Lest we forget.
 
Fun fact: Neither of the Boeing B-29s, Enola Gay or Bocks Car, were built by Boeing. They were both built by Martin.
 
very interesting stuff. Japan paid for it dearly for raiding Pearl Harbor.
 
my father was on tinian and watched all of this take place. his p-51 group flew cover to japan for Enola gay. he said he had pictures of them loading the bomb, but some major made him give up the film.
 
Amazing photo's.....I look at the seems very young men working on the bombs...Can you imagine the feelings that went with the bombs as they flew into history..... I was seven years old then..I remember the day the Japanese surrendered...The horns and whistles were going off all over the Youngstown area...People were in the streets, my mom was crying. Us kids were taking it all end..Like a Holiday. I remember all the gold stare small flags in people's windows, and the red stars...My Mom told me the Gold Gold stars meant some one had died in the service........God Bless America......
 
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I'm thinking there are a few countries in the world today that could use a reminder of what we can do when pushed.
 
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