The first atomic bomb at Hiroshima
Hiroshima / Nagasaki
At 8.15 on the morning of 6th August 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was devastated by the first atomic bomb to be used as a weapon of war. The bomb, nicknamed `Little Boy’, was dropped from the USAAF B29 bomber `Enola Gay’ and exploded some 1,800 feet above the city. Delivering the equivalent of around 12.5 kilotons of TNT, the bomb reduced 5 square miles of the city centre to ashes and caused the deaths of an estimated 120,000 people within the first four days following the blast. Many were instantly vaporised by the explosion, others died afterwards from the effects of burns and radiation.
Three days later, just after 11 on the morning of 9th August, a second atomic bomb nicknamed `Fat Man’ exploded above the city of Nagasaki. Although it was even more powerful than `Little Boy’, the destruction caused by this bomb was less than at Hiroshima due to the nature of the terrain (the original target had been the city of Kokura, but the B29 carrying the bomb had been diverted to Nagasaki because of heavy cloud cover). Nonetheless, over 2 square miles of the city were pulverised and some 73,000 people killed.
This is an interesting post, Rick. Heavens, it's hard for me to realize that this happened in my lifetime. And I vividly remember the atomic bomb tests in the 1950's as they were even televised then. What devastation man has created! At the time, the threat of radiation poisoning wasn't even considered or just not reported to the public until much later on. The atomic age was the term used to describe that time. Nations were scrambling to obtain or make the bomb. Now it's a threat that hangs over all international bargaining. But from the way society is moving now, I think the destruction will come from within. The moral, reactionary, repugnant groups seem to be self-destructive and bent upon imposing that upon all of us. Depressing thoughts until I read your blog and get to look at the handsome men solo or in action. Thanks for the uplift (pun intended :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch destruction that actually occurred in my lifetime. Hard to believe the destructive power man unleashed upon himself. I vividly remember the later atomic and hydrogen bomb tests as they were televised. Then every nation was scrambling to "get the bomb" as some kind of deterrent. Then the Cuban Missile Crisis had us sweating our possible destruction and the retaliation as a possible chain reaction of destruction could be unleashed. Now I think destruction will come from within as moral, reactionary, and political groups want to impose their self-destructive beliefs and actions upon all of us. Depressing. Yet, reading your blog and viewing the pics of men solo or in provocative action, along with the humorous memes, brings an uplifting mood (pun intended) Thanks, Rick
ReplyDeleteTaurusd2 & Taurus9311 - Gee, are there two of you? I'm sure you're one person with two different handles. Anyway, you described very well what was happening at the time. "Duck and cover" my ass.
ReplyDeletethis bombing always one of main topics in every history books
ReplyDeleteHot Daddy - As it should be.
ReplyDeleteThere's a sad irony in the fact that as clever as mankind can be, using whatever it can from the natural world, either from a 'sharpened stick', creating fire, or discovering the science behind what powers the sun, it can always sow the potential seeds of its own destruction?
ReplyDeleteBobbert - Humankind's hubris will be our demise.
ReplyDelete