RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today

["Cypret,Orville" <cypretow@PGDP.USEC.COM>]

The anticipated number of American casualties was very high.  In fact, I

read somewhere once that, in preparation for the invasion of the Japanese

homeland, a very large number of Purple Heart medals were ordered.  So many,

in fact, we continued to draw from that inventory at least through the end

of the Vietnam conflict.  Maybe we're still running on the 1945 inventory.



The book by Gar Alperovitz that describes his view of the decision to use

the bombs is a good read.  Comes across a little like an attempt at

revisionist history, though.  Maybe I'm just cynical.



Another amateur historian (who has to moonlight as an HP to support his

hobby),

Orville Cypret PE, CHP



-----Original Message-----

From: Chilton, Milton W. [mailto:chilton@NV.DOE.GOV]

Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 2:14 PM

To: 'John Jacobus'; NIXON, Grant (Kanata); 'Strickert, Rick'; Radiation

Safety

Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today





John, I believe one correction is in order based on your comments. I am only

an amateur historian, however, I believe it was the Germans that initiated

"Carpet Bombing" against not only Industrial targets but also including

civilian targets in Europe. Then yes the British and eventually the US

followed suit (One reason for carpet bombing was the difficulty in

accurately hitting a discrete target such as a munitions plants particularly

while being attacked by fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft fire that at

times destroyed 30% or more of the attacking forces.). Also I believe the

Japanese were using such bombing well before the war in Europe in order to

create chaos and confusion on the highways to prevent movement of the

Chinese forces. The idea from the Japanese perspective was to bomb civilian

targets to force evacuations which then clogged the highways so that the

Chinese Army found it very difficult to move. My understanding is that it

was a very effective strategy.



I believe if you look at history you will find it full of examples of gross

inhumanity by many military powers. However, I do think you will find few

examples that equal the efforts of the United States to limit collateral

damage and to treat prisoners and civilian populations humanely. No the US

is not perfect, however, I would definitely prefer to live with the history

of the US rather than the history represented by many other countries. One

thing we should all keep in mind is the number of Japanese lives that were

saved by the end of the war prior to an invasion. Again I don't recall exact

numbers, however, my best recollection is that while we were talking 1-2

million US casualties the number of dead and injured Japanese were expected

to be in the 10 million plus range.



Take care.



Milton





-----Original Message-----

From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM] 

Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 11:28 AM

To: NIXON, Grant (Kanata); 'Strickert, Rick'; Radiation Safety

Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today





1.  I believe at the time of the Nagasaki bombing,

another Pu bomb was enroute to Tinian.  The U.S. was

prepared to produce a bomb a month, if not more.



2.  World War II was the last "great" war.  It was

determined that unconditional defeat of the enemy was necessary.  The

bombing of "industrial" targets was necessary to defeat the war-making

capabilities of the enemy.  The British started strategic bombing against

Germans targets, and it just carried forth from there.

 



Some of the reasons that Hiroshima was chosen was that

the city was still untouch by air attacks (a good

model), it was surrounded by mountains that would

relect the blast waves, and there was a kite factory

(that made really big kites from which cables would

hang to screen against low flying aircraft.  I don't

think the allies knew about the submarine construction

facility.)



I still think the best book on this subject for

general reading is "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by

Richard Rhoads.



Wars should be fought so that they are never repeated.

 However, this lesson seems to be lost on every future generation.



--- "NIXON, Grant (Kanata)" <GNIXON@MDS.Nordion.com>

wrote:

> 

> Very interesting quotes.

> 

> Two comments:

> 

> (1) The US only had 2 viable A-bombs following the

> Trinity test. It took two

> drops to force a surrender. Given that, it could be

> argued that using one of

> them in a technical demonstration would have

> prolonged the war.

> 

> (2) Looking at the quotes below, it is interesting

> to note that the bombs

> were not used on those who waged war, as stated, but

> on purely civilian

> targets and where there were virtually no targets of

> military significance.

> 

> There is nothing moral or just to be salvaged in the

> theater of war.

> 

> Grant

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Strickert, Rick [mailto:rstrickert@signaturescience.com]

> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 10:22 AM

> To: Radiation Safety

> Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today

> 

. . .



=====

-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com



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