Few Hours Before The Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki

On 6^th & 9^th of August, 1945 the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And to this day it remains the only case when in the history of mankind were to use nuclear weapons for military purposes. Explosions in the two Japanese cities caused widespread destruction, from which, according to various estimates, killing 150 to 246 thousand people. Until recently, there were almost no published photographs showing the preparation for bombardment. National Archives (National Archives) first published declassified photographs documenting the work of soldiers and technicians shortly before dumping of nuclear bombs.

[caption id="attachment_213" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Hiroshima Bombing[/caption]

• Historians know the events that led the United States to take a decision on the dumping of bombs on the Japanese cities known as the «Little Boy» and «Fat Man» (Little Boy and Fat Man). Both were loaded onto planes at an air base on the island of Tinian, located to the south area of Japan. In this picture soldiers are checking the bombs "Fat Man" based on the island of Tinian.


• The future Nobel laureate - Norman Ramsey, watches as a geophysicist Francis Breach signs bomb "Little Boy." (Photo: National Archives).


• A technician applies putty and silicone on the slit bomb "Fat Man". This was done in order to have a bomb was maximum firepower at the moment of detonation.


• Soldiers and equipment written their names on the bomb "Fat Man".


• Signatures of soldiers and technicians on the bomb.


• Preparing a bomb "Fat Man" was placed on the platform for the transport. (Photo: National Archives).


• Bombs accompanied driven to the base of North Field.


• "Fat Man" was placed on a special pit, from which the bomb was directly loaded onto the aircraft.


• Bomb on the first platform was lowered into the pit with a hydraulic lift.


• Technicians last checked bomb "Little Boy" before loading.


• Bomber Boeing B-29 Superfortress arrives directly to the pit for loading bomb "Little Boy" on board.


• "Little Boy" was about before loading.


• Hydraulic lift gently raises the "kids" on board the bomber.