@wellerstein quick query for my book: When did it emerge that Kokura was in fact the #1 target for the 2nd bomb? I know in his famous report W.L. Laurence mentions "nameless" cities and a year later Groves was still killing references to Kokura in MGM movie. Thanks.
Great question! The first instance I've found of it being discussed as a target is from October 10, 1945 (Philadelphia Inquirer). But it didn't mention it as being the initial choice for the second mission. The first that says it was the alternate is from January 17, 1946 (WaPo).pic.twitter.com/rMzeLrRGQK
-
-
Thanks but only one of those that says clearly Kokura was for sure the top target was the "suspense" one which I presume was from book, which came out when? Like I said, Groves scrubbed any mention of Kokura from the MGM scripts throughout 1946.
-
All of them except the very first one say it was the "top target" or "no. 1 target," as I read them. All of these are from 1945-1946. Which is to say, info was out there for those who sought it, whether Groves cared or not.
-
Lyons says "probably."
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
The latter column was syndicated in several other papers. After that there are drips and drabbles of it periodically for the next year or so — the book "We Dropped the A-bomb" seems to have discussed it in brief, for example, and other first-hand accounts mentioned it.pic.twitter.com/2s8u2Dyof3
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.