Saturday, August 06, 2005

The big bang...


At approximately 2:00 on the morning of August 6th, the Enola Gay, which was carrying an atomic bomb (Little Boy), started on the long flight from Tinian. Two observation planes carrying cameras and scientific instruments followed behind her.

After 6:00, the bomb was fully armed on board the Enola Gay. Tibbets (the Pilot) announced to the crew that the the plane was carrying the world's first atomic bomb.

The trip to Japan was smooth. At about 7:00 o'clock, the Japanese radar net detected aircraft heading toward Japan, and they broadcast the alert throughout the Hiroshima area. Soon afterward an American weather plane circled over the city, but there was no sign of bombers. The people began their daily work and thought that the danger had passed.

At 7:25, the Enola Gay, at 26,000 feet, was cruising over Hiroshima. At 8:00 the Japanese detected again two B-29's heading toward Hiroshima. The radio stations quickly broadcast a warning for the people to take shelter, but many did not follow the advice. They thought that it was the same as first time.

At 8:09, the crew of the Enola Gay could see the city appear below; it was time to drop the bomb. Just then, they received a message indicating that the weather was good over Hiroshima. The bomb was released at 8:16 a.m.
A terrible, strong and unimaginable explosion occurred near the central section of the city. The crew of the Enola Gay saw a column of smoke rising fast and intense fires springing up.


What was to follow was the worst devastation that the world had yet to see. Unfortuantely the Japanese Military refused to concede so 'Fat Man' was dropped on Nagasaki 3 days later.

Thankfully the day before my mother was born, Japan surrendered and this ended the 2nd world war but regrettably left Japan with wounds, that on a personal level to millions, will never heal. I pray that a bomb like this will never be used on anyone ever again.

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