At 8:15 a.m. onn August 6, 1945, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb named “Little Boy” from an altitude of approximately 31,000 feet. The bomb exploded above the city of Hiroshima, releasing a massive blast and unleashing intense heat and radiation.
The Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets, who named the aircraft after his mother. Tibbets led a crew of twelve men. The hydrogen bomb detonated with a force equivalent to approximately 15,000 tons of TNT. The blast instantly destroyed buildings and infrastructure within a wide radius, causing immense destruction and fires that spread rapidly. The thermal radiation released by the explosion resulted in widespread burns and fatalities.
At 8:15 a.m., the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb named “Little Boy” from an altitude of approximately 31,000 feet. The bomb exploded above the city of Hiroshima, releasing a massive blast and unleashing intense heat and radiation.
The immediate death toll in Hiroshima was estimated to be around 66,000 people of an estimated population of 255,000, with 69,000 more suffering from injuries and radiation sickness. The long-term effects of radiation exposure, including cancer and other illnesses, continued to impact survivors for years to come.
West end of Miyuki Bridge (Matsushige 2)This photograph was taken moving in closer to the people after taking the photograph on the left.From in front of the police box, both sides on Miyuki Bridge were full of dead and injured people. From that evening, the injured were taken by truck to Ujina and Ninoshima Island.Just after 11 a.m.West end of Miyuki Bridge (Matsushige 2)This photograph was taken moving in closer to the people after taking the photograph on the left.From in front of the police box, both sides on Miyuki Bridge were full of dead and injured people. From that evening, the injured were taken by truck to Ujina and Ninoshima Island.Just after 11 a.m.West Fire Station, Minami Branch (Matsushige 4)Opposite Matsushige’s house was the wooden, three-floor West Fire Station, Minami Branch. This building collapsed in the bomb blast, and the firemen at work in the watchtower also fell as the building collapsed, and 4-5 firemen who were on the second floor were trapped under the collapsed building.Around 2:00 p.m. Modori-machiPolice officer filling in a disaster certificateOfficer Fujita from Ujina Police Station issued disaster certificates for victims of the bombing even though he was injured himself. People who had a disaster certificate could receive emergency relief food and daily commodities.Just after 4 p.m. (or 5 p.m.) Minami-machi 3-chome, at the corner of the Government Monopoly BureauBarber shop damaged by the bomb blast (Matsushige 3)In the area approximately 2,600m from the hypocenter where Matsushige’s home was located, his wife Sumie was running their barber shop. Although this area escaped the flames, the damage wreaked by the blast was devastating. Sumie was going through their valuables.Around 2:00 p.m. Modori-machiA view of Hiroshima in September 1945, weeks after an atomic bomb destroyed the city. Yoshito MatsushigeA view of the center of Hiroshima from a police station in September 1945. A newspaper building, a department store and a bank were destroyed.Credit...Yoshito MatsushigeThe blast left the shadow of a man imprinted on the stone step. Taken October, 1945. Exposure distance 880m.
Mushroom cloud
photo by Gonichi Kimura About 15 mins after the explosion
4 km from the hypocenter; taken from the Army Ship Training Division in Ujina-machi.The city in flames The fire seen from Ujina-machi
Photo by Gonichi Kimura 4,200m from the hypocenbter
August 6,1945A hibakusha of Hiroshima, symptomatic nuclear burns; the pattern on her skin is from the kimono she was wearing at the moment of the flash.This 21-year-old soldier was exposed in a wooden house within 1 kilometer of the hypocenter. He received medical care for gashes on his back and right abdomen. On August 18th he lost his hair and on the 29th his gums bled. Purple subcutaneous hemorrhage spots began appearing on his skin, and on the 31st he started a fever. On September 1st he could not drink because of throat pain and his gums began bleeding continuously. Purple spots proliferated all over his face and upper body. On the 2nd he lost consciousness, and he died at 9:30 p.m. on the 3rd.Soldier with tongue ulcer
Photo by Gonichi Kimura 1000m from the hypocenter
August 28,1945
Exposed 1,000m from the hypocenter
Shimomura Jewelers
Location: Hirataya-cho (now, Hondori)
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 620m
Established in 1873, Shimomura Jewelers built this new store in 1928. One of the first stores to be constructed of ferro-concrete, its clock tower with clocks on all four sides was eye-catching. However, since the structure lacked internal support pillars, the side walls gave way under the atomic blast. The second floor and clock tower remained erect on the pulverized first floor, as if sitting on an incline.
Building Crushed and Tilted by the Blast
620m from the hypocenter Hirataya-cho, Shimomura Jewelers
early October 1945
The roofs, windows, doors, and even the interior furniture and fixtures of ferro-concrete buildings in the vicinity of the hypocenter were crushed, blown apart, then reduced to ashes by the conflagration that followed immediately after the explosion. Even building interiors over 1 kilometer away were destroyed by fire. The first floor of this building was smashed. Only the second floor remained, with its arched windows and clock tower wreckage leaning precariously.Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall
Location: Sarugaku-cho (now, Ote-machi 1 chome)
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 160m
The building was constructed in 1915 as Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall. In 1921, the name changed to Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall and again in 1933 to Industrial Promotion Hall. Besides displaying and selling products from around the prefecture, it also served as a history and art museum. As the war intensified, these roles withered and various government offices took over the space, including the Chugoku-Shikoku Public Works Office of the Home Ministry and the Lumber Control Corporation. The atomic bombing killed everyone in the building. Because the bomb exploded virtually overhead, it retained the distinctive feature that earned it the name "A-bomb Dome" after the war.Motoyasu Bridge and the Fuel Hall
Location: Central portion of the Motoyasu Bridge
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 130m
The railing on the south side of the Motoyasu Bridge fell over except for the newel posts. The three-story ferro-concrete Fuel Hall was built in 1929 as the Taishoya Kimono Shop. After the Textiles Control Ordinance, the building was acquired by the Prefectural Fuel Rationing Union in 1944. The A-bomb fires gutted the building except the basement. After the war the building was repaired and kept in use, becoming the Peace Memorial Park Rest House in 1982.The team confers
Location: Moto-machi
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 170m
The team confers in front of the large torii gate on the approach to Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine. They went over the day's schedule for each sub-team (physics, biological, medical, and civil engineering construction) before setting out for their respective destinations.The survey team shortly after arrival in Hiroshima
Location: Moto-machi
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 160m
The survey team members gathered on the approach to Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine are facing the hypocenter.
Academic Survey Team Carrying out Studies
October 1, 1945
Japan Film Corporation Photographers accompanied an academic Survey team during its investigations. The precious Photographs and footage they took were taken home by the Occupation Army and finally returned in 1967 and 1973.The survey team shortly after arrival in Hiroshima
Location: Moto-machi
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 160m
The survey team members gathered on the approach to Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine are facing the hypocenter.
Academic Survey Team Carrying out Studies
October 1, 1945
Japan Film Corporation Photographers accompanied an academic Survey team during its investigations. The precious Photographs and footage they took were taken home by the Occupation Army and finally returned in 1967 and 1973.Large torii gate on the approach to Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine
Location: Moto-machi
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 170m
Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine had three torii gates. The largest one on the approach near the hypocenter was the only torii still erect because it took the blast almost vertically. The tablet hanging from the torii on the hypocenter side was merely knocked askew, not blown off. In 1956, the shrine was rebuilt on the remains of the central bailey (honmaru) of Hiroshima Castle. The large torii and its hanging tablet were moved to the back entrance, and the stone lanterns and stone guardian dogs to the main shrine entrance.Stone lantern cracked in pieces by the heat ray
Location: Moto-machi
Distance from hypocenter: approx. 330m
One of the pair of stone lanterns on the south side of the front building of Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine. On the side facing the hypocenter, the capping stone and the three-tiered base stones were cracked by the heat ray, and some pieces fell off. The reaction of granite to heat made it useful for measuring the temperature and direction of the heat ray.
A mushroom cloud rises 20,000 feet (6,100 meters) over the devastated city of Hiroshima, Japan, 2–3 minutes after detonation, 6 August 1945, photographed from Yoshiura, looking southward, by Technical Sergeant George R. Caron, U.S. Army Air Corps, tail gunner of the B-29 Enola Gay, using a Fairchild Camera and Instrument Company K-20 aerial camera with a 6-3/8″ f/4.5, 4″ × 5″ film negative. (U.S. Air Force)The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima after the dropping of "Little Boy" photographed by Bob Caron.One of the newly found photos, taken by Bob Caron from the Enola Gay, shows the atomic bomb's mushroom cloud after the device was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945.
According to the report of August 9, the dead or missing at the Second Army Hospital totaled 12 out of 20 officers, 139 out of 187 soldiers, and 536 out of 650 patients. “Tents were set up by the surviving staff to accommodate patients.”. Moto-machi, Hakushima areas
Moto-machi, Hakushima areas
With the Hiroshima Second Army Hospital also completely destroyed, temporary huts, using blackout curtains, door panels, and other items, were set up on the left bank of the nearby Honkawa River to provide first aid for the injured. Yokogawa Bridge is in the rear. (This photograph was one of the pictures attached to the report by the survey team from the Imperial General Headquarters.)Searching inpatient lists at relief headquarters
Photo by Yotsugi Kawahara
260m from the hypocenter
Kamiya-cho Sumitomo Bank, Hiroshima Branch
August 10, 1945
People Scanning the Patient List Posted at Relief Headquarters
260m from the hypocenter Kamiya-cho, Sumitomo Bank, Hiroshima Branch
(around August 10, 1945)
Worried for the safety of missing family and relatives, those who were able searched the city endlessly inquiring at relief stations, Many were never able to identify a body or even bring home belongings or other mementos of deceased.The fury of conflagration Tragic sights of a burned-out community A-bombed streetcar
Photo by Yotsugi Kawahara 310m from the hypocenter
Taken from Moto-machi August 12This photograph was taken facing toward the northwest from the western side of Yanagibashi Bridge (Kanayama-cho, Naka Ward), 1.3 kilometers from the hypocenter. The building in the right rear is the Hiroshima East Police Station. To the left of the police station is the Hiroshima Central Broadcasting building. Masao Maruyama (he died in 1996), who became a leading political scholar in Japan after the war, belonged to the intelligence team of the Army Marine Headquarters. He walked through the city center on August 9 and preserved some photos taken by Mr. Kawahara, including this one. The photos appear in a book titled, Maruyama Masao Senchu Bibouroku (Masao Maruyama’s Wartime Memorandum), published after his death.Taken from the roof of the 7th floor of the Chugoku Shimbun New Building toward Hatchobori. A city train that is far off track conveys the awesomeness of the blast. The front is the railing on the roof, and the route behind the train is the train street where the current Hakushima Line runs. The black part on the far left is the shadow of Fukuya Department Store, and you can see the remains of an air raid shelter in front of it.From Nishi Training Ground to Fukuya Department Store
The burnt tree in the foreground was growing on the embankment of Sotobori. From the front on the far left, the Shoko Chukin Bank Hiroshima Branch, Fukuya Department Store, and Chugoku Shimbun.The main gate of Hiroshima Daiichi Army Hospital, 440 meters from the hypocenter. It is on the north side of the prefectural gymnasium in the current central park. According to the "Breaking Report No. 4" dated August 9 of the Hiroshima Disaster Investigation Team of the Ministry of the Army, "Burning dead staff patients no.
Hiroshima Second Army Hospital Mitaki Branch
In the area 2500m from the hypocenter, 80% of the buildings are completely destroyed.Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital
Looking up at the 2nd floor on the right (north-northwest) toward the Honma entrance. The window frame was pushed in by the blast at an angle of about 45 degrees from the hypocenter, and the glass broke. The 2nd floor is more severely destroyed than the 1st floor. The tree on the far right is mysteriously alive.A town that was completely destroyed and turned into rubble
Heading west from Yamaguchi Town. Traces of wooden houses and stores that have turned into rubble. The narrow open road in the foreground seems to be easy to walk, probably because the rubble has been cleared and the person who entered the city for relief. You can see the Hiroshima Ryukawa Church in the upper left and the Hiroshima Higashi Police Station in the upper right.
(5) Hatchobori
Taken from the roof of the 7th floor of the Chugoku Shimbun New Building toward Hatchobori. A city train that is far off track conveys the awesomeness of the blast. The front is the railing on the roof, and the route behind the train is the train street where the current Hakushima Line runs. The black part on the far left is the shadow of Fukuya Department Store, and you can see the remains of an air raid shelter in front of it.Air raid shelter in the West Training Ground
Nearly 30 air raid shelters were dug in the West Training Ground. Are the soldiers on and beyond the moat the military police who accompany the shoot?Yanagibashi completely destroyed
From east to west. It was temporarily repaired after the flood the year before the bombing, and it was a one-way street on the north side. It spontaneously ignited and burned down in about an hour. The buildings facing the left end of the opposite bank are Kirinbiya Hall and Obayashi, the buildings that overlap on the right are Fukuya Department Store, Chugoku Shimbun, Hiroshima Branch of Japan Kogyo Bank, etc.Remains of Chugoku Command Air Defense Operations Room
It remains inside the stone wall on the south side of the current Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine square. A semi-underground air defense operation room dug inside the stone wall in preparation for the mainland decisive battle. One of the destruction of Hiroshima was struck by two third-year female volunteers from Hijiyama High School, who were mobilized to work in this underground pit.Taken from the Kamiyacho intersection 260 meters from the hypocenter toward the southeast. The right end is the main store of Gebi Bank (currently Hiroshima Bank), and the two-story brick building of the Daido Life Hiroshima branch on the left was destroyed, leaving the east wall. The building on the far left is Kirinbiya Hall (Hondori, Naka-ku, now Hiroshima Parco stands)(6) Ryukawa Church
Ruins from the new building of the Chugoku Shimbun to the north-northeast. In the center is the Hiroshima Ryukawa Church with a hypocenter of 900 meters, on the far right is the vault of the Hiroshima Branch of the First Recruit Insurance, the building in the back of the center is the Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station, and in the back is Shukkeien. A tornado-like fire broke out in the garden, burning many evacuated people to death.Aioi Bridge 330 meters from the hypocenter, which was the target of the atomic bombing. Due to the strong blast, the balustrade fell into the river except for a part, and there was a gap (on the right) between the road and the sidewalk. The front is the Hiroshima Electric Railway's turret (Yagura) substation, and the back is the Honkawa National School. Taken from the 3rd floor of the Prefectural Chamber of Commerce (now Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce) BuildingAioi Bridge
Heading west from the bridge on the lower left bank of the Motoyasu River. Despite being close to the hypocenter, the balustrade on the downstream side of Aioi Bridge leaned outward but did not fall. The upper building is Honkawa National School.Stripped roof tiles
It receives a blast from the northeast, swirls at the roof tiles, and strips off the roof tiles.
A-bomb status of Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station
The bombing situation of the Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station (JOFK), which was about 1000m northeast of the hypocenter.Wooden house near Osu Town
A wooden house near Osu-cho along the railroad track. The wooden building around 2500m from the hypocenter was destroyed in this way by the blast, but it did not burn.Damage to the grass growing in the moat of Hiroshima Castle
About 980m from the hypocenter, the damage situation of the hass growing in the moat of Hiroshima Castle.A large tree exposed to heat rays, a tree that has been uprooted by a blast.Damage to the tin roof of the oil distribution control warehouse.Blown window glass.A-bombed corpse near Hiroshima Castle, corpse due to heat rays and blast pressure. West training ground (700-800m northeast of the hypocenter).Charred remains of the deceased with eyes protruding
With the fierce pressure of the blast the air pressure in the area dropped instantaneously, resulting in eyeballs and internal organs popping out from bodies.
August 10 Near Hiroshima Castle 500m from the hypocenterAbout 1370m northeast of the hypocenter The iron door blown off by Hiroshima Teishin Hospital.A tree torn by a blast.
A freight car on the Sanyo Main Line that derailed due to the blast. At the iron bridge near Nigitsu Shrine (about 1620m from the hypocenter).Damage to rice in paddy fields 1200m away from the hypocenter.A tram (type 400) that was exposed to the bomb on a train street near Hatchobori and burned down.
A wooden house near the East Training Ground, about 3000m from the hypocenter, also collapsed.A tree torn by the blast pressure.Damage to a wooden house 3000m away from the hypocenter.The direction of Tokihabashi and Nigitsu Shrine as seen from the Hiroshima Teishin Bureau.1900m from the hypocenter Inside Hiroshima Station, the windowpane was blown off by the blast.A staircase that was broken by a blast 1000m from the hypocenter.The left side of the front is the west side of the new building of Chugoku Shimbun, and the steel frame in front of it is the warehouse of Odamasa Shoten.Looking east from the roof of the Chugoku Shimbun, towards Inaricho. The white building on the front right is the Hiroshima Higashi Police Station, the vacant lot on the front left is Noboricho National School, and the Inaricho train bridge can be seen beyond the front. The building on the lower right is the Hiroshima branch of Nihon Kangyō Bank.Completely destroyed city of HiroshimaView toward Hiroshima Station from the north side of Taisho Bridge.From the roof of the Chugoku Shimbun, you can see the southeastern direction and the direction of Mt. Hiji. In the foreground is the Hiroshima branch of Nihon Kangyō Bank
View of Nagarekawa Dori to the north from the roof of the Chugoku Shimbun.Restoration work at the Sanyo Main Line Kandagawa Railway Bridge. Heading west.
View of mushroom cloud over Hiroshima as seen from the naval arsenal at Kure, about 20km away. Photo by Masami Oki. 6 August 1945. The brightness to the left is explosions within the cloud.Mushroom cloud
Photo by Masami Oki About 40 mins after the explosion
18 km from the hypocenter; taken from the Naval Cannon Testing Station in Yoshiura-cho (now Wakaba-cho), Kure City.Plain of rubble Looking southeast from Takajo-mach
Photo by Masami Oki 630m from the hypocenter
August 20,1945
A sign posting a message of family members stands in a deserted city.Kanayama, Nobori areasThe arched Rankan Bridge in the center is Yokogawa BridgeKirin Beer Hall, whose characteristic large window was destroyed and the inside was completely burned down. Taken by Masami Ogi on August 20, 1945
A woman who was burned by thermal rays. About 2,000 people were taken to Ninoshima on August 6 alone. (From a print belonging to Yotsugi Kawahara)August 7
Army Transport Quarantine Station on Ninoshima Island
Photo by Masami OnukaAugust 7
Man with burns over his entire body. A shot taken by Masami Onuka at the army quarantine station on Ninoshima on the afternoon of August 7, 1945. This soldier suffered burns over his entire body except around his waist because he was wearing a bellyband. This photo and the photo of the woman were published in the August 6, 1952 edition of “Asahigraph,” a news magazine. (From a print kept by Yotsugi Kawahara)
Army Transport Quarantine Station on Ninoshima Island.
General view of Hiroshima, Japan as seen from vicinity of 'zero', shows complete devastation as a result of atomic bombing.
Source: National ArchivesThe headquarters of Geibi Bank (second building from the left) as seen from Saiku-machi (now part of Ote-machi, Naka Ward), hypocenter of the atomic bombing. To the right of the bank building is the Hiroshima branch of the Sumitomo Bank. The building in the foreground on the right is the Hiroshima branch of the Norinchukin Bank. This photo was taken by the U.S. military in November 1945.
Source: United States Army - Returned MaterialsThe foreground shows the ruins of the Hiroshima Gas Company Building (800 feet from the hypocenter). In the center are the ruins of the Honkawa Elementary School.
Source: United States Army - Returned MaterialsThe ruins of Hiroshima. Almost all wooden houses to a radius of 4,750 - 6,330 feet (1,450 - 1,930 meters) from the hypocenter were crushed instantly. Fire then swept through them, either from the heat of the blast or from cooking fires, until they were engulfed by the firestorm.
Source: National ArchivesDamage in Hiroshima after the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945. A few buildings are still standing, and some telephone and electricity poles remain intact. This photograph was taken in March, 1946.
Source: National Archives
