JF Ptak Science Books LLC Post 185
I’ve made several posts on the development of the first atomic bomb(s) as we approach the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945). At this point in 1945, the Potsdam Declaration had been announced demanding the unconditional surrender of Japan, Little Boy was being assembled, and Fat Man had arrived at Tinian Island. The last bits of the Manhattan Project were being put into place. One of public relations parts—the first PR involving the use of the bomb–is a document that I’ve never seen before, found at the Truman Presidential Library (and available digitally).
Henry Stimson, the Secretary of War, sent this message to President Truman as the statement to be released by the White House once the (secret) bomb had been dropped (also known as “Use Day”)—an explanation to the American people about what would happen on 6 August.
