Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the National Air & Space Museum: Three Explosions that Changed History
By Paul F. Straney and Robert Sacchi
Bob Sacchi and I wrote these articles in 1995, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Our research for these articles included nearly 10 hours of interviews and hundreds of hours of background research.
Even 50 years later, there is still much controversy over the use of atomic weapons in warfare. We have tried to present information from both sides of the issue. You, the reader, will have to draw your own conclusions in this complex and emotional topic.
Balancing "The Last Act"
The battle over how the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be commemorated by the National Air & Space Museum in its 50th anniversary remembrance.
Photo Extra!
A special selection of photos not included with the articles.
The Enola Gay at the National Air & Space Museum
The Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, is currently on display at NASM. After the battle over "the Last Act", is this exhibit more than a ghost of what it was?
Links to Related Sites:
The National Air & Space Museum Home Page: Enola Gay - Gallery 103
The National Air & Space Museum (NASM) maintains an impressive presence on the World Wide Web. This is their page for the Enola Gay exhibit, and a must-see for anyone interested in the B-29 "Enola Gay".
Air Force Association Home Page: The Enola Gay Debate
The position of the Air Force Association on the Enola Gay debate, in their own words.
A-Bomb WWW Museum
This site, co-sponsored by the City Government of Hiroshima, gives a Japanese view of the use of the atomic bomb.
Hiroshima: Was it Necessary?
One historian's examination of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Leo Szilard Home Page
Leo Szilard was a physicist that opposed the use of the atomic bomb. Details his contributions to nuclear research, and his efforts to lobby against use of the A-Bomb.