Near Failure at Nagasaki

Case study 2

Near Failure at Nagasaki

Introduction

The case study Near Failure at Nagasaki present the US military mission at Nagasaki. Aircraft crew plan and steps on drooping the nuclear bomb on Japanese city. From crew members share their observation on the mission and provide the reason for complications and almost failure of the mission.

Facts

• August 9th 1945 day of dropping the bomb “Fat Man” on Nagasaki

• Charles W. Sweeny pilot in command for Nagasaki, flown in Hiroshima mission the instrument plane Great Artiste measuring the effects on detonation.

• Col. Paul W. Tibbets Jr. Commander who flown the Hiroshima Mission.

• Col. James I Hopkins Jr, the group operations officer, flew the observation airplane

• Navy Cmdr. Frederick L. Ashworth responsible for arming and drop of the bomb.

• Right before the mission Sweeny was notify that the fuel in the reserve bank of Bockscar was not pumping, but even though he decided to go. In addition, because of bad weather the rendezvous was much higher which consumed additional fuel. Second plane was not at rendezvous point

• Great Artisle was at the rendezvous but Big Sink was not, flying 9000 miles higher than supposed

• Hopkins flying Big Sink broke the radio silence when he didn’t make the rendezvous and sent a message to Tinian which was misconstrued in transmission and was received as “Sweeny aborted” and as a result rescue preparations was terminated

• Time the Great Artisle spent at rendezvous was costly and when they got to Kokura the target was no longer clear

• When they got to the second target Nagasaki was under heavy clouds which eliminate making visual drops. And Ashworth suggest drop by radar, because of the lower fuel they only could make one attend.

• They didn’t