On
6 August, the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb
on Hiroshima inflicting unprecedented destruction - 78,000
people killed and 48,000 buildings destroyed! This was
followed on the 9th by a second nuclear bomb attack on
Nagasaki. Carried by the B-29, "Bock's Car, " it demolished
the city resulting in 35,000 deaths.
Our
final mission to Isesaki was flown 15 August. This was
small city some 150 miles northwest of Tokyo. Extensive
fires resulted, both at Isesaki and other numerous places
along the route in. While on final approach to Guam, we
learned that the Japanese had unconditionally surrendered.
Prisoner of war supply missions followed. This gave us
an opportunity to witness the horrified destruction the
B-29s had inflicted on so many of the Japanese cities
- both large and small. In many cases, heretofore cities
ceased to exist. In their place lay only miles of ruin
and rubble."
On
2 September 1945, the official signing of the surrender
too place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. In a short ceremony
conducted by General Douglas McArthur, World War II finally
came to an end. |