63 years ago today, Aug. 8, 1945

[Little-Acorn]

Sixty-three years ago today, on Aug. 8, 1945, the second atomic bomb used in warfare was carried by the B-29 Superfortress "Bock's Car" to the city of Kokura, Japan. When the plane flew over Kokura at bombing altitude, the crew found the city to be obscured by cloud cover, making accurate placement of the weapon impossible. The aircraft was diverted to its alternate target of Nagasaki, Japan. The bomb, a plutonium-239 implosion weapon similar to the one tested at the Trinity site in New Mexico the previous month, was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 50,000 people that day and destroying much of the city.

The Japanese surrendered six days later, ending World War II and the massive bloodletting and destruction that it had caused. By forcing this hasty surrender, the two atomic bombs saved more lives than they destroyed when the invasion of the Japanese home islands by American forces was called off.

[Hobbit]

Sixty-three years ago today, on Aug. 8, 1945, the second atomic bomb used in warfare was carried by the B-29 Superfortress "Bock's Car" to the city of Kokura, Japan. When the plane flew over Kokura at bombing altitude, the crew found the city to be obscured by cloud cover, making accurate placement of the weapon impossible. The aircraft was diverted to its alternate target of Nagasaki, Japan. The bomb, a plutonium-239 implosion weapon similar to the one tested at the Trinity site in New Mexico the previous month, was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 50,000 people that day and destroying much of the city.

The Japanese surrendered six days later, ending World War II and the massive bloodletting and destruction that it had caused. By forcing this hasty surrender, the two atomic bombs saved more lives than they destroyed when the invasion of the Japanese home islands by American forces was called off.

Actually, that's tomorrow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_man

And yes, I do live off of the sound of burst bubbles.

[Little-Acorn]

Actually, that's tomorrow.

Sorry, no. It was 63 years ago today.

People where it was dropped call today "August 9". But that's not where I, or most people on this forum, live.

August 8, 1945 is correct.

[April15]

Sixty-three years ago today, on Aug. 8, 1945, the second atomic bomb used in warfare was carried by the B-29 Superfortress "Bock's Car" to the city of Kokura, Japan. When the plane flew over Kokura at bombing altitude, the crew found the city to be obscured by cloud cover, making accurate placement of the weapon impossible. The aircraft was diverted to its alternate target of Nagasaki, Japan. The bomb, a plutonium-239 implosion weapon similar to the one tested at the Trinity site in New Mexico the previous month, was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 50,000 people that day and destroying much of the city.

The Japanese surrendered six days later, ending World War II and the massive bloodletting and destruction that it had caused. By forcing this hasty surrender, the two atomic bombs saved more lives than they destroyed when the invasion of the Japanese home islands by American forces was called off.

Perhaps Iran could use a few? Dropped on them.

[Hobbit]

So, you determine the date of things that happen by what the date is here in the U.S. rather than what the date is where the event happened? Isn't that kind of egotistical, or do you start celebrating Christmas on December 24 because it's already Christmas somewhere else in the world?

P.S. Yes, I'm being facetious.

[gabosaurus]

I agree with Hobbit in regards to the date argument. In the city where the bomb was dropped, Nagasaki, it was Aug. 9.
As regards to the actual event, the Japanese themselves were to blame. At least the Japanese ruling regime was.