@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.
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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
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
