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RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
Hiroshima was kept off the targeting list for incendiary bombing so it could
be attacked with the atomic bomb, that's why it was untouched.
Any opinions expressed in this message are mine alone and do not necessarily
represent those of the Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System, The
Department of Veterans Affairs, or the United States Government.
Peter G. Vernig
Radiation Safety Officer, VA Medical Center 1055 Clermont St. Denver, CO
80220, ATTN: RSO MS 115; peter.vernig@med.va.gov; personal
peter_vernig@hotmail.com; 303.399.8020 ext. 2447, FAX: 303.393-5026 [Off on
weekends] Alternate fax 303-377-5686 [Service 24/7]
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is found to be
excellent or praiseworthy, let your mind dwell on these things."
Paul of Tarsus
-----Original Message-----
From: NIXON, Grant (Kanata) [mailto:GNIXON@MDS.Nordion.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 8:20 AM
To: 'Strickert, Rick'; Radiation Safety
Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
We note that Hiroshima was virtually untouched up until the bombing, likely
for the reason that it was not exactly the most important or strategic
military target. Nagasaki was NOT THE INTENDED TARGET and was an
after-thought, as described. It was NOT given an AA or even an A target
classification, unlike Kyoto, despite the highly-touted military targets of
Nagasaki mentioned in the post.
If you follow the link provided by Rick Strikert (as others before), you
will see that they discussed dropping the bomb on Kyoto because of the
high-intellect and sophistication of the people living there. Kyoto was
classified as an AA target, not because of its military installations (the
emperor's palace is the only item of note), but because of the huge
psychological toll it would take on the Japanese people. This is made quite
explicit. Therefore, the goal of inflicting huge civilian casualties is no
secret, it certainly figured very high in the planning in the decision for
drop sites. How else could one rate Kyoto a AA target while not even
bothering to give the highly-industrialized Nagasaki any rating whatsoever!
Considering the choice of detonation height and the choice of ground zero,
it appears to reflect the goal of killing as many people as possible as
opposed to destroying "hard" targets. As during the cold war, the tactic is
to strike military installations first with ground bursts followed by
air-bursts over major cities. The choice over ground (or near-ground) and
air bursts depends on your intended target, military installations or
civilian targets.
I ended-up fueling this thread because I wanted to put a counter spin on the
famous quote posted. The one that vilified the people against whom the bomb
was dropped (i.e., those responsible for attacking us at Pearl, poorly
treating our POW's, etc.). I attempted to point-out that those actually
targeted in the bomb drops were overwhelmingly civilian, as some food for
thought given the anniversary. I pass no judgments over the decision, only
the spin that is fed to us by politicians.
Best regards,
Grant
-----Original Message-----
From: Strickert, Rick [mailto:rstrickert@signaturescience.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 6:23 PM
To: Radiation Safety
Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
Regarding Grant Nixon's claim that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were "purely
civilian targets and where there were virtually no targets of military
significance" -
>From the Minutes of the second meeting of the Target Committee Los Alamos,
May 10-11, 1945
Source: U.S. National Archives, Record Group 77, Records of the Office of
the Chief of Engineers, Manhattan Engineer District, TS Manhattan Project
File '42-'46, folder 5D Selection of Targets, 2 Notes on Target Committee
Meetings. [http://www.childrenofthemanhattanproject.org/HISTORY/H-07d.htm]
12 May 1945
Memorandum For: Major General L. R. Groves
Subject: Summary of Target Committee Meetings on 10 and 11 May 1945
[Among the items discussed was the following]
6. Status of Targets
A. Dr. Stearns described the work he had done on target selection.
He has surveyed possible targets possessing the following qualification: (1)
they be important targets in a large urban area of more than three miles in
diameter, (2) they be capable of being damaged effectively by a blast, and
(3) they are unlikely to be attacked by next August. Dr. Stearns had a list
of five targets which the Air Force would be willing to reserve for our use
unless unforeseen circumstances arise. These targets are:. . . .
(2) Hiroshima - This is an important army depot and port of
embarkation in the middle of an urban industrial area. It is a good radar
target and it is such a size that a large part of the city could be
extensively damaged. There are adjacent hills which are likely to produce a
focussing effect which would considerably increase the blast damage. Due to
rivers it is not a good incendiary target. (Classified as an AA Target). . .
.
B. It was the recommendation of those present at the meeting that
the first four choices of targets for our weapon should be the following:
a. Kyoto [Classified as an AA Target]
b. Hiroshima [Classified as an AA target]
c. Yokohama [Classified as an A Target]
d. Kokura Arsenal [Classified as an A Target]
------------------------------------
The following excerpts come from THE ATOMIC BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND
NAGASAKI
by The Manhattan Engineer District, June 29, 1946,
[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/abomb/mpmenu.htm]
[According to a narrative by Comdr. F.L. Ashworth, U.S.N.:] "During
the approach to the target [Kokura was the primary target] the special
instruments installed in the plane told us that the bomb was ready to
function. We were prepared to drop the second atomic bomb on Japan. But fate
was against us, for the target was completely obscured by smoke and haze.
Three times we attempted bombing runs, but without success. Then with
anti-aircraft fire bursting around us and with a number of enemy fighters
coming up after us, we headed for our secondary target, Nagasaki."
The city of Nagasaki had been one of the largest sea ports in
southern Japan and was of great war-time importance because of its many and
varied industries, including the production of ordnance, ships, military
equipment, and other war materials.
The bomb exploded high over the industrial valley of Nagasaki,
almost midway between the Mitsubishi Steel and Arms Works, in the south, and
the Mitsubishi-Urakami Ordnance Works (Torpedo Works), in the north, the two
principal targets of the city.
As intended, the bomb was exploded at an almost ideal location over
Nagasaki to do the maximum damage to industry, including the Mitsubishi
Steel and Arms Works, the Mitsubishi-Urakami Ordnance Works (Torpedo Works),
and numerous factories, factory training schools, and other industrial
establishments, with a minimum destruction of dwellings and consequently, a
minimum amount of casualties.
Rick Strickert
Austin, TX
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