On August 9th, 1945, The United States dropped “The Fat Man”- their code name for the type of atomic bomb they used- on Nagasaki, Japan. This bombing was the 2nd of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in warfare, the first being “Little Boy,” which was dropped on August 6th, 1945, in Hiroshima. The nickname “Fat Man” referred to the vast, round shape of the implosion-type nuclear weapon. It was retired as a weapon in 1950. 

Facts:

• On the unprecedented dates of August 6th and 9th, 1945, the United States unleashed the unparalleled power of two atomic bombs on the still-populated Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The bomb unleashed a devastating wave of destruction, claiming the lives of around 125,000 civilians, 20,000 soldiers, and 12 prisoners of war in Hiroshima.
• In Nagasaki, the aftermath was equally grim, with 80,000 people succumbing to radiation poisoning within the first four months, a stark reminder of the enduring impact of nuclear warfare.
• As a direct result of the bombings, the Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender a month later, on September 2nd.
• The United States had warned Japanese civilians of potential air raids by dropping leaflets across the country.
• It is believed that the leaflets were designed to increase the psychological impact of the bombs. However, no leaflets were dropped before the bombs were dropped.
• The second atomic bomb was nicknamed Fat Man. It was dropped at 11.02 am from 1650 feet above the city.
• Nagasaki, a strategic shipbuilding center, was chosen as a target due to the ships manufactured here being intended for war against the United States and other countries.
• Frederick Bock piloted the plane that carried the bomb. It was a 29-bomber named Bockscar.