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Einstein Writes Roosevelt Concerning the Atomic Bomb
Enrico Fermi's and Einstein's LetterEinstein's Letter image citation
Albert Einstein writes a letter to F.D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States, detailing his concerns about the atomic power held by the Nazis. Earlier that year, in March, Enrico Fermi had travelled to see the President detailing similar concerns; however, it was not until Einstein's letter that F.D.R. agreed to start the Manhattan Project. -
General Leslie Groves Purchases Necessary Equipment to Start Building the Bombs
Groves InfoGroves Picture
On this date in history newly promoted General Leslie Groves bought 1250 tons of high quality uranium from the Belgian Congo. The next day he bought 52,000 acres of land to be used as the Oak Ridge Laboratory. -
Dr. Oppenheimer Gets Recruited
Oppenheimer InfoOppenheimer Image
On this day in 1942, Groves asks Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer to lead "Project Y", the newly planned Nuclear Weapons Laboratory that, on September 16th of that year, would be located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. -
Fermi Finishes Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Reactor InfoNuclear Reactor Image
Fermi finishes the construction of the CP-1, the first nuclear reactor. It contained 36.6 metric tons of Uranium Oxide, 5.6 metric tons of Uranium metal, and 350 metric tons of graphite. -
First Contained Nuclear Chain Reaction
Fermi's ExperimentFermi image
Under the grandstands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago, Fermi, along with a small group of other physicists produced the first contained Nuclear Chain Reaction -
Oppenheimer Approves Plans for Bomb Test
Alamagordo ImageBomb Test Info
Oppenheimer approves plan for bomb test in Jornada del Muerto Valley in Alamagordo Bombing Range. Groves approved the test 5 days later. -
Tinian Island Begins to Assemble Bombs
Tinian Island InfoTinian Island Image
Preparation begins at Tinian Island to begin assembly on atomic bombs. -
First Target Session is Held
Target Session Info
The first session was held to discuss the targets of the bombs. 10 Japanese cities are selected to study. -
Targeting Session Reconvenes
Target Session Image
Targeting Session reconvenes and the list was reduced to 4 targets instead of 10. -
B-29's Prepped for Bombs
B-29 InfoB-29 Image
During mid-spring of 1945, the U.S. started designing B-29's that would be able to hold the atomic bombs. -
Little Boy was Finished
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First Atomic Bomb Detonated
Trinity Tower InfoTrinity Tower Remains
On this date, outside of Alamogordo, New Mexico, the first Atomic Bomb was detonated by Dr. Oppenheimer. -
Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroshima Bombing InfoBombing of Hiroshime Aftermath
On this date a B-29 Bomber flew over Hiroshima and dropped the world's first weaponized atomic bomb. This killed over 100,000 people over the days following. The blast wiped out an estimated 90% of the city. -
Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki, Japan
Nagasaki Bombing InfoNagasaki Image
Three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, another bomb was dropped over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The bomb killed an estimated 40,000 people.
