This Day in History Hiroshima Day: On August 6, 1945, a pivotal moment in history unfolded as the B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, took off from Tinian Island with a mission targeting Hiroshima, Japan. At the helm was Colonel Paul Tibbets, commanding the 509th Composite Group. The city's population, nearing 300,000, included around 43,000 soldiers, making it a significant military hub.
As dawn broke, the Enola Gay climbed to 31,000 feet, preparing for its devastating mission. At approximately 8:15 a.m. Hiroshima time, the bomber released "Little Boy," a 9,700-pound uranium bomb, over the city. Tibbets maneuvered the plane away quickly to escape the expected shock wave. Just 43 seconds later, a massive explosion erupted 1,900 feet above Hiroshima, directly over a military parade field. Despite being eleven and a half miles away, the Enola Gay felt the impact of the blast, which Tibbets initially mistook for enemy fire. Upon looking back, he described the scene as a “terrible and incredibly tall” mushroom cloud.
The explosion, estimated at 15 kilotons, was catastrophic. Moments before, Hiroshima was experiencing a calm, sunny morning. The city’s air raid alert had been lifted, and daily life was in full swing with soldiers, commuters, and families going about their routines. The bomb's impact was immediate and brutal. Those nearest to the blast were incinerated instantly, and birds caught fire mid-flight. Flammable materials ignited as far as 6,400 feet from ground zero. The intense light of the explosion burned shadows of bodies onto walls and clothing patterns onto skin.
Survivors close to the blast reported a blinding flash followed by a wave of searing heat. Radiation effects were not immediately visible, but the blast wave quickly followed, often knocking people off their feet. Buildings crumbled, and even those indoors were not spared from the destruction, as shattered glass filled their homes. One boy was thrown across the street when his house collapsed. Within minutes, 90% of those within half a mile of the blast zone were dead.
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