Fat Boy loading on Tinian

[Airpark]

This is an interesting set of photos - the REAL thing - pictures from Tinian Island as the B-29 "Enola Gay" was being loaded.

Notice the "Top Secret" stamp on some of the photos. In the last few pix notice the CRUDE sheet metal work on the casing and fins of "Little Boy" - the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.The pictures provide a glimpse into one aspect of the engineering on the first atomic bombs; the mechanical and logistical work that it took to handle, store, transport, and load them.



Declassified Historical photographs.

http://www.alternatewars.com/Bomb_Loading/Bomb_Guide.htm

 

[mc5aw]

The Fat Man looks almost cartoonish in its shape and size. Amazing to think what it and its smaller sibling were capable of doing.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The first time I saw an actual nuc, I thought it looked like a propane tank with fins. It was a Mk 28.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In looking at the 6th photo, the one of L-11, I realized; that is the bomb that killed my aunt's parents. They were laborers (unwilling slaves) at a work camp outside Nagasaki. My aunt died a few years ago, I knew the story, but could never find the 'least wrong' time to talk on the subject, so much history lost. Ivan

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

very cool...

 

[Thiokol]

The first time I saw an actual nuc, I thought it looked like a propane tank with fins. It was a Mk 28.

I worked on several different mods of the 28. A very versatile weapon system, to say the least. If you were in the 463 or 2W2 career field, come join us at the Nuclear Weapons Technicians Association at Home - Nuclear Weapons Technician Association.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

I found these photos very interesting. When I visited the Trinity site they had on display the shell for an early postwar implosion nuc which they claimed was the production version of the Fat Man device. I always wondered how much difference there was. Pulling up my snapshot, it looks identical to the prototype.

I was once in a unit armed with nucs, and was delighted at the informality of the assembly process shown by the photos, compared to the subsequent elaborate peacetime routine, which was almost ritualistic.

 

[zzzippper]

The Fat Man looks almost cartoonish in its shape and size. Amazing to think what it and its smaller sibling were capable of doing.

Smaller in size but Little Boy had more yield.

 

[824tsv]

Looking at these photos, I can't help but remember the sacrifice of the crew of the USS Indianapolis who delivered some key components for the bomb to Tinian. Such a horrible loss.........

 

[shouldazagged]

Looking at these photos, I can't help but remember the sacrifice of the crew of the USS Indianapolis who delivered some key components for the bomb to Tinian. Such a horrible loss.........

Amen to that. The survivors' stories are hideous to read or hear.

 

[Vegetaman]

Amen to that. The survivors' stories are hideous to read or hear.

Indeed. Including that of it's captain.

 

[1morethan8]

USN? Where they in charge of final assembly?

Uniform of the day... Shorts!

 

[DR505]

Smaller in size but Little Boy had more yield.

No.
Little Boy ~13 Kt yield
Fat Man ~ 20 Kt yield

Little Boy did more damage due to the topography of Hiroshima v. Nagasaki.

 

[P&R Fan]

Very cool pictures, thanks for sharing.
If you read old Skeeter Skelton stories he wrote one about Dobe Grant enlisting in the SEABEES and being stationed on Tinian.

The size of those weapons is amazing when you think about their destructive powers. Then consider in the '80s the Soviets had several suitcase nukes. I hear several were "misplaced".
Wonder where they are now.
Jim

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My understanding of the Soviet suitcase design is the Tritium half life is so short that the "Trigger" will fizzle without maintenance/replacement every 2 or 3 years. It would still be a very nasty dirty bomb and maybe have a very small yield (estimated to be less than 1 ton yield, let alone anything in the kiloton yield). But the havoc and mess if set off in a metro area. The long term radiation poisoning might rival one of the Japanese cities. Ivan

 

[gunny4053]

Very interesting photos. My Dad was a combat photographer with the Marines on Tinian when those missions were flown. He told us he suspected something was up because of the security.

Just shows how technology has advanced. I look at those and then think about the Artillery fired nukes I worked with. Comparable yields in units a fraction of the size, and as someone else noted, the procedures were ritualistic, actually anal.

Hopefully we never step to that brink again.

 

[UncaGrunny]

Fascinating.

 

[BigBill]

We should of dropped the third one just for there arrogance.

So sorry charlie


The 155mm howitzers I built for the US ARMY had nuke capabilities.

 

[BigBill]

Very cool pictures, thanks for sharing.
If you read old Skeeter Skelton stories he wrote one about Dobe Grant enlisting in the SEABEES and being stationed on Tinian.

The size of those weapons is amazing when you think about their destructive powers. Then consider in the '80s the Soviets had several suitcase nukes. I hear several were "misplaced".
Wonder where they are now.
Jim

They were missing 30 or so suitcase dirty nuke bombs.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

USN? Where they in charge of final assembly?

Uniform of the day... Shorts!

There were a number of Navy folks involved in the Manhatten Project.
Capt. (Later Rear Admiral) Parsons was on aboard the Enola Gay. He did the final on board arming after takeoff.