Hiroshima Day 2023: Unforgettable History and Profound Significance Revealed!
Hiroshima Day 2023: Unforgettable History and Profound Significance Revealed!
On August 6th, we observe Hiroshima Day to promote peace politics and increase awareness of the catastrophic effects of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. This day in 1945 marked the tragic loss of thousands of lives due to the detonation of an atomic weapon, making it the first city to undergo such a devastating nuclear attack.
Today marks the 76th anniversary of this significant event, which we honor with solemnity.
Brief History
On 6th August, Hiroshima was the main city targeted for the first atomic bombing. The mission also had Kokura and Nagasaki as backup targets. The B-29 aircraft named Enola Gay, belonging to the 393d Bombardment Squadron, was used for this mission. The Enola Gay took off from North Field, Tinian, which was about six hours’ flight away from Japan. It was accompanied by two other B-29s which carried special equipment.
Before reaching the target area, the bomb was armed in flight by Parsons, who was in charge of the mission. He did this to reduce the risks during takeoff, as he had seen B-29s crash before and wanted to avoid a nuclear explosion in case of an accident.
On the night of 5th to 6th August, Japanese radar detected many American aircraft approaching the southern part of Japan. Hiroshima also received air raid alerts during this time. At 08:09, Tibbets began the bomb run and handed control to Major Thomas Ferebee, the bombardier.
The bomb, called Little Boy, was released at 08:15 (Hiroshima time) and took about 44.4 seconds to fall from the aircraft to a detonation height of approximately 580 meters (1,900 ft) above the city.
Due to crosswinds, the bomb missed its intended target, the Aioi Bridge, by around 240 meters (800 ft) and exploded directly over the Shima Surgical Clinic. The explosion released an energy equivalent to 16 ± 2 kilotons of TNT and caused destruction over an area of about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile), with fires spreading across 11 square kilometers (4.4 square miles).
Also read
Celebrate Friendship Day in 2023 with these heartwarming wishes! – dailyblogline.com