Fuel problem.” [Bockscar Radio Operator Abe Spitzer strike report on Nagasaki mission; Sweeney, Antonucci & Antonucci (1997) p. 220]“The next bomb of the implosion type had been scheduled to be ready for delivery on the target on the first good weather after 24 August 1945. He didn’t like the idea of killing, as he said, ‘all those kids.’ ” [Secretary of Commerce Henry Wallace diary entry, August 10, 1945; Blum (1973) pp. It was too early to determine what the results of the bombing might have been, but he was sure that the Japanese didn’t like it. Even more cheering. We did not design our organization to operate in perpetuity.
Now it will become self-sustaining. It blasted; it pounced; it bored its way right through you. I would certainly appreciate hearing from readers regarding further entries.A note on source notation: A few entries have citations of the form Mxxxx-y, image zzzz. 154-155]“I remember the spring of 1941 to this day. While the advances in the field to date had been fostered by the needs of war, it was important to realize that the implications of the project went far beyond the needs of the present war. In answer to the question, Was the development of the atomic bomb by the United States necessary? I reply unequivocally, Yes. To the question, Is atomic energy a force for good or for evil? I can only say, As mankind wills it. Most experiences in life can be comprehended by prior experiences but the atom bomb did not fit into any preconception possessed by anybody. Now, at age 88, I am one of the few remaining such senior persons alive. 80-88]“A fission bomb of superlatively destructive power will result from bringing quickly together a sufficient mass of element U235. 433-440]“Even though the purpose was grim and terrifying, it was one of the greatest physics experiments of all time.” [Emilio Segrè on the “The war is over.” [General Thomas Farrell to General Groves after the “Anyway we think we have found the way to cause a disintegration of the atom.
(eds. Underlining as in original.
It urged the United States to take steps to acquire stockpiles of uranium ore and accelerate the research of Enrico Fermi and others into nuclear chain reactions. Roosevelt called on Lyman Briggs of t…
It must be controlled if possible to make it an assurance of future peace rather than a menace to civilization.” [Interim Committee minutes, May 31, 1945; “After much discussion concerning various types of targets and the effects to be produced, the Secretary expressed the conclusion, on which there was general agreement, that we could not give the Japanese any warning; that we could not concentrate on a civilian area; but that we should seek to make a profound psychological impression on as many of the inhabitants as possible. I first met J. Robert Oppenheimer on October 8, 1942, at Berkeley, Calif. Thirteen pounds of the explosive caused the complete disintegration of a steel tower 60 feet high, created a crater 6 feet deep and 1,200 feet in diameter, knocked over a steel tower 1/2 mile away and knocked men down 10,000 yards away.
[AIP Emilio Segre Visual Archives]“It bore no relation to the industrial or social life of our country; it was a separate state, with its own airplanes and its own factories and its thousands of secrets. That bomb had more power than 20,000 tons of T.N.T.
One-tenth cloud at 052315Z. It was a vision which was seen with more than the eye. References to original sources are given for all quotes. It is not for us to believe that. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.Nuclear physicist Robert Oppenheimer was … I think the whole thing should be pushed not only in regard to development, but also with due regard to time. Other men have spoken them, in other times, of other wars, of other weapons. Providing there are no unforeseen difficulties in manufacture, in transportation to the theatre or after arrival in the theatre, the bomb should be ready for delivery on the first suitable weather after 17 or 18 August.” [Groves memo to General George C. Marshall, August 10, 1945; M1109-3, image 0653]“The President, who usually comes to cabinet not later than 2:05, came in about 2:25 saying he was sorry to be late … Truman said he had given orders to stop atomic bombing. Quotes tagged as "manhattan-project" Showing 1-3 of 3 “One day you have Einstein, puzzling over the theory of relativity, the next you’ve got the Manhattan Project and a big hole in the ground.” ― Justin Cronin, The City of Mirrors. There is no material or structure that could be expected to resist the force of the explosion.” [Frisch-Peierls Memorandum, March 1940. Consequently, our people were able to devote themselves exclusively to the task at hand, and had no reason to engage in independent empire-building.
of War, Mr. Stimson, to use it so that military objectives and soldiers and sailors are the target and not women and children. In that world, in that war, it was the only thing to do. Proceeding to Okinawa. If an atom bomb had not been made and detonated in World War II, the world would be unprepared to cope with the tremendous threat of nuclear warfare. 291-292]“The Secretary expressed the view ... that this project should not be considered simply in terms of military weapons, bu… Let us sum up the three possible explanations of the decision to drop the bomb and its timing. 68-70]“The peoples of this world must unite or they will perish. Available at “This weapon is to be used against Japan between now and August 10th.
By our works we are committed to a world united, before this common peril, in law, and in humanity.” [Robert Oppenheimer remarks on receiving Certificate of Appreciation from Secretary of War Henry Stimson, October 16, 1945; Pais & Crease (2006) p. 48]“But when you come right down to it the reason we did this job is because it was an organic necessity. Each part of the project had a specific task. Visible effects greater than New Mexico tests. 86-87]Genia (1908-1986) and Rudolf (1907-1995) Peierls in New York, 1943. From notes (written up by Edward U. Condon) of introductory lectures by Robert Serber (Apr 1943) at the start-up of the Los Alamos Project.
Weintraub (1995) p. 424; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Lewis. 3974-4 (20 Apr 1969) by Charles Weiner, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, on aip.org, American Institute of Physics website.