2 days ago
Nagasaki as it happened: the atomic bombing of Japan in real time
It has been three days since a new horror dawned on the world when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. About 80,000 people died instantaneously and everything within a half-mile radius was wiped out. Survivors, who suffered terrible burns and other injuries in the almighty blast, are now beginning to fall ill with a mysterious sickness. The death toll will rise further.
Nevertheless, Japan has not surrendered. The militaristic government remains split 50-50 between those who would give the Allies the unconditional surrender they demand and those who believe Japan can fight its way to another deal. Better terms would be bought by forcing an Allied invasion of Japan, in which maybe more than a million would die. Besides, the anti-peace camp includes many who find the idea of surrender utterly abhorrent.
The Japanese Supreme War Council will meet later today. The American bomber convoy expects to reach its target at about 9.40am.
In the morning skies over Yakushima, an island south of the western edge of Japan, two planes have been circling for 40 minutes. The B-29 bombers, called Bockscar and The Great Artiste, are carrying very different cargoes. The Great Artiste is filled with scientific instruments, cameras and even a journalist. Bockscar is carrying a single bomb.
They have been waiting for a third plane, called Big Stink, at this isolated rendezvous point. They can wait no longer. With a waggle of its wings, Bockscar indicates that it is time to proceed. They head north.
Some 170 miles away, the summer sun is waking the city of Nagasaki.
