The World War Two Memories Project - Japan

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.     Home     Add Your Story     Events  Features     Airfields of WW2     Allied Forces     Axis Forces     Home Front     Prisoner of War     Secrets of WWII     Ships of WWII     Women at War     Those Who Served     Day-by-Day     The Great War  Submissions     How to add Memories     Add Your Memories     Can you Answer?     Printable Form  Schools     School Study Center     Children's Bookshop  FAQ's     Your Family History     Volunteering     Visit where They Served     Contact us     News     Bookshop     About     Links World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII

Regarding the witnessing if the Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki- A few days before this event, the power and water supply of Motoyama (the industrial area in which I worked) was put out of action by American Aircraft, so the Coal Mine in which I slogged was flooded, hence the reason why I was labouring in the fields at the time of the dropping of the bomb on Nagasaki. Prior to the dropping of the bomb some 30 or more B 29's fly over in undisturbed formation toward Kyushu. Five minutes later there is the sound of an explosion like a couple of worlds colliding in mid air, and something like an earthquake shakes and rumbles our world. It seemed to be an immense pattern of heavy bombs, the altogether plan. the explosion is prolonged, goes on and on like an echo of heavy thunder rumbling around. It is so much greater than anything I have ever heard previously, and I look around to see if anything is visible locally. It is. Up out of Kysushu, an immense cloud rises into the clear morning sky. I have never seen anything like it before, like some horrible malignant growth gushing poison. I watch the cloud still rising. It now resembles a giant mushroom in the sky-a huge thick stalk going straight up, pushing a great speeding cap above it. After the war had ended, I learn that the bomb on Nagasaki was really Mojo, just across the water from Motoyama. The Americans came over that morning to deliver the Mojo attack but visibility was poor-Mojo was shrouded in mist, so they went into discharge their bomb on the alternative target, Nagasaki. It subsequently seemed like a miraculous escape from being floated away in particles of dust. They say a cat has nine lives, I lost count of how many "lives" I had during te war. Mr. George William Brooks About a week after the atomic bomb was dropped on NAGASAKI, I had a chance to fly close to the area. We had been told not to fly too close because of the radiation. It looked as if the bomb had been dropped right in the centre of the city. The city was in a slight valley and extended down to the sea. Looking down it appeared to be one large brown area extending ¾ of the way up the mountain on both sides of the valley. The was nothing in the middle but one or two structures that looked like they might have been chimneys. That`s all that was left. I flew into Tokyo with our Squadron Commander Col. Lackey. It was quite an experience, seeing all those Japanese Officers bowing all over the place. There were lots of photographers and high ranking brass having their pictures taken. Robert Hyde More of Robert`s recollections: Clark Field If you have any recollections of world war two and would like to share them please: Add Your Story The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or if you would like to send a cheque please email us for the postal address.. Website © Copyright MM-MMIXI - All Rights Reserved