If it was deemed necessary, what was the third Japanese city planned to have had a nuclear bomb dropped on it in WWII?

gtho4

According to this site, the final selection was: 1. Hiroshima 2. Kokura 3. Nagasaki There's no explanation as to how or why #2 was skipped. http://www.hiroshima-spirit.jp/en/museum/morgue_e12.html Nov 21 09, 9:25 PM

star_gazer

I am sure that the people of Kokura are not complaining. Nov 21 09, 9:28 PM

serpa

It was clouds that spared Kokura. But although the radar scope was locked on to Kokura, the orders were to drop the bomb only on visual identification of the huge arms factory that was the target. A young man named Kermit Beahan peered through the rubber eyepiece of the bombsight, and he could see some of the buildings of Kokura and the river that ran by the arms factory, but the complex itself was blocked by a cloud. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/07/world/kokura-japan-bypassed-by-a-bomb.html Nov 21 09, 10:11 PM

gtho4

yep, the clouds saved them, as per the original War Department directive/order, dated 25 July 1945, which permitted "visual bombing": WAR DEPARTMENT 25 July 1945 TO: General Carl Spaatz       Commanding General       United States Army Strategic Air Forces     1. The 509 Composite Group, 20th Air Force will deliver its first special bomb as soon as weather will permit visual bombing after about 3 August 1945 on one of the targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata and Nagasaki. To carry military and civilian scientific personnel from the War Department to observe and record the effects of the explosion of the bomb, additional aircraft will accompany the airplane carrying the bomb. The observing planes will stay several miles distant from the point of impact of the bomb.     2. Additional bombs will be delivered on the above targets as soon as made ready by the project staff. Further instructions will be issued concerning targets other than those listed above.     3. Discussion of any and all information concerning the use of the weapon against Japan is reserved to the Secretary of War and the President of the United States. No communiques on the subject or releases of information will be issued by Commanders in the field without specific prior authority. Any news stories will be sent to the War Department for specific clearance.     4. The foregoing directive is issued to you by direction and with the approval of the Secretary of War and of the Chief of Staff, USA. It is desired that you personally deliver one copy of this directive to General MacArthur and one copy to Admiral Nimitz for their information.       THOS. T. HANDY       General, G.S.C.       Acting Chief of Staff http://www.cfo.doe.gov/me70/manhattan/order_drop.htm Looks like the answer to the Q is either Kokura or Niigata. Nov 22 09, 12:35 AM