The discovery of the fission process of the uranium nucleus in 1938 marked the beginning of a new era in the development of mankind. And this meant not only the use of the acquired knowledge for the benefit of civilization. The world saw a bomb of monstrous destructive power. With such a powerful weapon in your arsenal, with just one click, you can destroy our entire planet. History shows that world wars began with very small, insignificant conflicts. The main task of the government of all countries is to be prudent. Few people can survive World War III. The consequences of the attacks on two Japanese cities in 1945 clearly confirm these words.
The first combat use of the atomic bomb in history
The answer to the question: "When were the bombs dropped on Hiroshima?" any schoolboy will give: "On the morning of August 6, 1945." At 8:15 am, the crew of the US Air Force Enola Gay bomber, B-29 brand, attacked a Japanese city with the latest weapon weighing four tons. The name given to the first atomic bomb was "Baby". About sixty thousand people died at the time of the attack alone. ATthe next day after that - another 90,000, mainly from the strongest radiation exposure. The power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was up to twenty kilotons of TNT. The radius of destruction is over one and a half kilometers.
The second military use of the atomic bomb in history
The power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was somewhat less than the "Fat Man", which on August 9, 1945 attacked the Japanese city of Nagasaki from a bomber of the same model as in Hiroshima ("Box car"). The main target for the attacking side was the settlement of Kokura, on whose territory a large number of military depots were concentrated (Yokohama and Kyoto were also considered). But due to heavy cloud cover, the command changed the direction of the aviation flight.
The city had a chance to remain unscathed - that day there was heavy cloud cover. And the plane had a faulty fuel pump. The team had the opportunity to go just one lap, which was done.
Japanese radar "spotted" enemy planes, but the fire on them was not started. According to one version, the military mistook them for reconnaissance.
American pilots were able to detect a slight scattering of clouds and the pilot, focusing on the outlines of the local stadium, pressed the lever. The bomb fell much further than its intended target. Witnesses recall an explosion of such magnitude that was felt in settlements four hundred kilometers from Nagasaki.
Unprecedented power
The power of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,in total reached the equivalent of almost forty kilotons. About twenty for "Fat Man" and eighteen for "Kid". But the active substance was different. A cloud of uranium-235 swept over Hiroshima. Nagasaki was destroyed by the impact of plutonium-239.
The power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was such that the entire city infrastructure and the vast majority of buildings were destroyed. In the next few days, fire brigades fought fire over an area of more than eleven square kilometers.
Nagasaki from a major seaport, center of shipbuilding and industry in an instant turned into ruins. All living creatures that were within a kilometer from the epicenter died immediately. Strong fires also did not subside for a long time, which was facilitated by strong winds. In the entire city, only twelve percent of the buildings remained intact.
Aircraft crews
The names of those who dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known, they have never been hidden and they have not been classified.
The crew of Enola Gay included twelve people.
The commander of the board was Colonel Paul Tibbets. It was he who selected the aircraft at the production stage and led most of the operation. He gave the order to drop the bomb.
Thomas Fereby, scorer - he was at the helm and pressed the deadly button. Was considered the best gunner in the US Air Force.
The crew of the "Box car" consisted of thirteen people.
At the helm was the crew commander and one of the best pilots of the US Air Force, Major Charles Sweeney (during the first bombardment he was in the escort plane). He sent a bomb to a Japanese city.
Lt. Jacob Bezer participated in both historic bombing raids.
Everyone lived quite a long life. And almost no one regretted what happened. To date, none of the members of these two historical crews have survived.
Was there a need?
It has been more than seventy years since the two attacks. Debates about their expediency are still ongoing. Some scientists are sure that the Japanese would have fought to the last. And the war could drag on for several more years. In addition, the lives of thousands of Soviet soldiers who were supposed to launch a military operation in the Far East were saved.
Others are inclined to believe that Japan was already ready to capitulate and the events of August 6 and 9, 1945 for the Americans were nothing more than a show of force.
Conclusion
Events have already happened, nothing can be changed. The monstrous power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and then on Nagasaki, showed how far a man with a weapon of retaliation can go.
All you can hope for is the prudence of politicians, their sincere desire to find a compromise in disputes. Which is the main basis for maintaining a fragile peace.
