Hiroshima Bombing



Hiroshima Bombing

Introduction

In August 1945, two B-29 American Bombers dropped two atom bombs over Japan concluding the World War II but inaugurated the New Atomic Age in the human civilization. It was 6th Aug, 1945. Apparently it seems to be another tensed day During World War II for the people residing in Hiroshima. They were not aware of the approaching threat. Three American jets flew over the skies of the city. They did not get alert because it was quite normal during war times that enemy airplanes flew over the cities, to monitor purposes. B-29 American Bomber dropped something over the city. It was nothing else but world's first ever deadly atomic bomb which annihilated the whole city. The atomic bomb caused the 90% killing of lives present at the time of bombing. Approx 80000 people got eradicated from the surface of the earth in one go. Rest of the people suffered aftereffects of radiation exposure. The main purpose of this bombing is to make Japanese Emperor announce unconditional surrender in the war which was achieved later.

Discussion

Manhattan Background

Many Jewish origins European scientist migrated to American in the wake of antisemitism movement in Europe. When they arrived there, they communicated their concerned about possible development of nuclear technology in Europe which would give them a clear edge in the war times. In the wake of such concerns, American government initiated its own research project in the field of nuclear technology in 1940. The main goal to establish its own nuclear weapons development program was to achieve breakthrough technological edge in this field before the Nazis. The War department and Office of the Scientific Research and Development took a joint control of the program when the First World War began. Huge facilities were established by the US ARMY Engineering Corps to facilitate this project. The codename of this project was 'The Manhattan Project'.

Besides the Manhattan project, Canada and United Kingdom were carrying out their own weapon development programs in the same field named Chalk River Laboratories and Tube Alloys respectively. All three projects collaborated in the research process. The scientist involved in the Manhattan project produced basic raw material for the nuclear fission that were plutonium (Pu-239) and uranium-235 over the next couple of years. After production, the basic raw material was reaching Los Alamos, Mexico. There, another team of scientists, under the J. Robert Oppenheimer, processed this material into an atomic bomb. On July 16th, 1945, the first successful test was conducted by the Manhattan project at Alamogordo, New Mexico. The nature of the bomb is exactly the same as one dropped over Hiroshima. The bomb dropped over the city of Hiroshima was known as 'Little boy'. It was composed of a rate isotope of uranium combined with Uranium 235.

Hiroshima Bombing and its impact

The city of Hiroshima was of industrial and military significance to a limited extent. Many army camps were located in surroundings of the city. Hiroshima served as storage point, a communication center and assembly area for military ...