Enola Gay/B-29
The Enola Gay is arguably the most famous single named plane of all time. It is the B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the first ever nuclear weapon. The lesser known B-29 that dropped the fat man bomb was named bock's car. B-29s were practically untouchable due to their heave armor and their high altitude flying capabilities, which Japanese fighters could not match. The b-29 was Such an impressive fighter that it was still used even in the Korean War. The b-29 was capable of flying for extended ranges and it also carried a large payload of bombs in its fuselage while flying at speeds up to 400 mph with power delivered by four large radial piston engines. The planes were extRemely deadly. For instance, one firebomb attack alone by 279 b-29s resulted in more than 80,000 casualties, all japanese. No american planes or lives were lost. besides having twelve 12.7mm browning machine guns mounted in five different places, the b-29 was capable of carrying 20 tons, 20,000 pounds, of payload making them the true city-leveling machine. (Military factory)
Atom Bombs: Little Boy and Fat Man
The atomic bombs dropped on Japan were the Little boy and fat man bombs. Below is information about the two bombs.
"The Little Boy Bomb:
Dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, it was the first nuclear weapon used in a war. Following are some approximate statistics for Little Boy. If you require more extensive information on this weapon, please contact us:
The Fat Man Bomb:
Dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, it was the second nuclear weapon used in a war. Following are some approximate statistics for Fat Man.
"The Little Boy Bomb:
Dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, it was the first nuclear weapon used in a war. Following are some approximate statistics for Little Boy. If you require more extensive information on this weapon, please contact us:
- Weight: 9,700 lbs
- Length: 10 ft.; Diameter: 28 in.
- Fuel: Highly enriched uranium; "Oralloy"
- Uranium Fuel: approx. 140 lbs; target - 85 lbs and projectile - 55 lbs
- Target case, barrel, uranium projectile, and other main parts ferried to Tinian Island via USS Indianapolis
- Uranium target component ferried to Tinian via C-54 aircraft of the 509th Composite Group
- Efficiency of weapon: Extremely poor
- Approx. 1.38% of the uranium fuel actually fissioned
- Explosive force: 15,000 tons of TNT equivalent
- Use: Dropped on Japanese city of Hiroshima; August 6, 1945
- Delivery: B-29 Enola Gay piloted by Col. Paul Tibbets
The Fat Man Bomb:
Dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, it was the second nuclear weapon used in a war. Following are some approximate statistics for Fat Man.
- Weight: 10,800 lbs
- Length: 10 ft 8 in.; Diameter: 60 in.
- Fuel: Highly enriched plutonium 239
- Plutonium Fuel: approx. 13.6 lbs; approx. size of a softball
- Plutonium core surrounded by 5,300 lbs of high explosives; plutonium core reduced to size of tennis ball
- Bomb Initiator: Beryllium - Polonium
- All components of Fat Man ferried to Tinian Island aboard B-29's of the 509th CG
- Efficiency of weapon: 10 times that of Little Boy
- Approx 1.176 grams of plutonium converted to energy
- Explosive force: 21,000 tons of TNT equivalent
- Use: Dropped on Japanese city of Nagasaki; August 9, 1945
- Nuclear Weaponeer: Cdr. Frederick Ashworth
- Delivery: B-29 Bock's car piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney"(Atomic Heritage.)