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First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today (Fred Haywood's comments)
FYI, these are Fred Haywood's comments.
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred_Haywood@URSCorp.com [mailto:Fred_Haywood@URSCorp.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 5:40 PM
To: NIXON, Grant (Kanata)
Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
Information shared here has been very interesting. For a decent discussion
on decisions about the targets in Japan, I refer you to "Now It Can Be
Told" by General Groves. There are individual chapters (say, 23, 24, 25)
about what made each city worthy of being a target. The whole discussion
brings back memories of listening to a recording of Churchill's address to
the U.S. Congress on December 26, 1941. My favorite part of that speech was
what he had to say about the Japanese warriors: "What kind of a people do
they think we are? Is it possible that they do not realize that we shall
never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson
which they and the world will never forget?" Based on the current interest
in this topic, sounds like Winnie was right.
Fred Haywood
______________________________
Fred Haywood
Principal Scientist
URS
1093 Commerce Park Drive, Ste. 100
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Direct 865.220.8102
Fax 865.483.9061
fred_haywood@urscorp.com
"NIXON, Grant
(Kanata)" To: Radiation
Safety <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
<GNIXON@MDS.Nordion.co cc:
m> Subject: RE: First
atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
Sent by:
owner-radsafe@list.van
derbilt.edu
08/07/03 01:12 PM
Please respond to
"NIXON, Grant
(Kanata)"
I concede on the point of Nagasaki being deemed an important target - it
was
designated as an alternate, secondary target by General Spaatz days prior
to
the drop despite it having not even being assigned AA or even A target
status. This point was also made very clear by Rick Strickert.
I'm not sure about the ultimate fate of the leaflets - someone should clear
up this point with a reference to them. We note that the final terms
offered
to the Japanese in the Potsdam declaration on 26 July did not contain any
reference to the atom bomb but simply warned the Japanese of the
consequences of continued resistance. The Japanese had standing orders to
kill POWs if the overthrow of their positions was imminent. Given that, and
given the possibility of using POWs as human shields, it seems unlikely
that
leaflets were issued, at least not prior to the Hiroshima bombing.
Grant
-----Original Message-----
From: Minnema, Douglas [mailto:Douglas.Minnema@nnsa.doe.gov]
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 12:18 PM
To: 'Borisky, Michael (Civ, ARL/CoS)'; Richard Orthen; NIXON, Grant
(Kanata); Radiation Safety
Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
It was my understanding that leaflets were dropped for a few days before
the
bombings, but it's always hard to discern the truth after 58 years.
Regardless, the leaflets did exist, and about 5 years ago Bruce Busby
posted
on his old website a copy of the leaflet along with a translation provided
by Tosh Ushino. This was discussed on this list at that time. I still
have
a copy that I printed from that site, but since Bruce left the University
of
Michigan the old web address is no longer correct.
If either Bruce or Tosh are still here on the list, perhaps they can tell
us
if the file is still available somewhere for those interested.
>From my recollection of the books I have read, Nagasaki was a legitimate
target based on its port facilities and its industries, but it has been too
long ago for me to remember the details. I used to have access to the
original bomb assessment reports done by the Army of both cities after the
war, and if I have time I will see if I can find them again. Those were
very interesting, and would certainly contain the information as to what
the
Army considered significant targets at the time.
Doug Minnema, Ph.D., CHP
National Nuclear Security Administration
<Douglas.Minnema@nnsa.doe.gov>
what few thoughts i have are truly my own...
-----Original Message-----
From: Borisky, Michael (Civ, ARL/CoS) [mailto:mborisky@arl.army.mil]
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 10:12 AM
To: Richard Orthen; NIXON, Grant (Kanata); Radiation Safety
Subject: RE: First atomic bomb - 58 years ago today
Does any one know if the U.S. dropped leaflets in advance to warn the
Japanease civilians what was coming so they would have a chance to get
out. I've been told the U.S. did.
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