Author Stephen Walker reflects on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by revisiting interviews with the now-deceased crew members who carried out the missions. The article details the events leading up to and during the bombings, the crew's perspectives, and the lasting impact of these historical events, emphasizing the dwindling number of survivors and the current global nuclear threat.
‘You don’t brag about wiping out 60‑70,000 people’: the men who dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Author Stephen Walker reflects on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by revisiting interviews with the now-deceased crew members who carried out the missions. The article details the events leading up to and during the bombings, the crew's perspectives, and the lasting impact of these historical events, emphasizing the dwindling number of survivors and the current global nuclear threat.
Trending- 1 1942: World's first controlled nuclear chain reaction (Chicago).
- 2 1944: FBI interrogates Jeppson; Jeppson shares plane with Oppenheimer.
- 3 February 1945: Dresden wiped out.
- 4 Early 1945: Appalling battles on Iwo Jima.
- 5 July 16, 1945: Bomb tested in New Mexico.
- 6 July 26, 1945: President Truman delivers Potsdam declaration ultimatum to Japan.
- 7 August 4, 1945: Charles "Don" Albury summoned to secret briefing on Tinian.
- 8 August 6, 1945: Enola Gay drops "Little Boy" atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
- 9 August 9, 1945: Bockscar drops "Fat Man" atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
- 10 August 15, 1945: Japan surrenders.
- 11 Barely three weeks after Nagasaki bombing: Albury and Van Kirk return to Nagasaki.
- 12 1967: Robert Shumard dies.
- 13 1976: Paul Tibbets simulates nuclear attack at Texas airshow.
- 14 2004: Stephen Walker interviews Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk in San Francisco.
- 15 2005: Frederick Ashworth dies.
- 16 2010: Morris Jeppson dies.
- 17 2013: Harold Agnew dies.
- 18 2014: Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk dies.
- 19 This summer (2025): Marks 80 years since the attacks.
- 20 Just in the last week (prior to 2025-06-22): War breaks out in the Middle East over Iran's nuclear program fears.
- Mass casualties (over 200,000 deaths)
- Widespread destruction of cities
- End of World War II
- Psychological impact on crew members (some pride, some guilt)
- Ongoing debate about justification
- Increased global nuclear proliferation
- Heightened nuclear threat in modern times
What: Stephen Walker, an author, reopens his files and rereads transcripts of interviews with the now-deceased crew members of the Enola Gay and Bockscar, the B-29 bombers that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The article details the missions, the crew's experiences, their reflections on the bombings, and the broader context of nuclear weapons and global security.
When: Published 2025-06-22. Events discussed occurred in 1945 (August 4, 6, 9, 15), 2004 (Walker's interview with Van Kirk), 2010 (Jeppson's death), 2013 (Agnew's death), 2014 (Van Kirk's death), 2005 (Ashworth's death), 1967 (Shumard's death), 1976 (Tibbets' simulation). The article marks the upcoming 80th anniversary of the attacks.
Where: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kokura (Kitakyushu), Tinian (Pacific island), Utah, Orlando (Florida), Santa Fe, San Diego, Las Vegas, Chicago, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, Dresden, Okinawa, Manchuria, Middle East.
Why: The author revisits these testimonies to provide perspective on the atomic bombings as the 80th anniversary approaches, especially given the current dangerous global climate with more nations developing nuclear weapons and explicit threats from leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, and recent war in the Middle East over Iran's nuclear program. The goal is to learn lessons from history.
How: Stephen Walker conducted interviews with crew members like Theodore 'Dutch' Van Kirk, Charles 'Don' Albury, Morris Jeppson, Harold Agnew, Frederick Ashworth, and others, often decades after the events. He recounts their detailed memories of the missions, including the preparations, the flights, the drops, and the immediate aftermath. The article contrasts their initial reactions (relief, pride) with later reflections (guilt, sorrow).