1. Yes, the USA, during the final stages of World War 2, dropped one atomic bomb on each of the following Japanese cities:
a) Hiroshima, 6 August 1945 (bomb's nickname: "Little Boy"; TNT equivalent: 13 kilotons);
b) Nagasaki, 9 August 1945 (bomb's nickname: "Fat Man"; TNT equivalent: 21 kilotons).
2. Here are the deaths that have been calculated (though this is not without controversy):
a) Hiroshima 140,000 - of which 70,000-80,000 died instantly (including 2,000 Japanese Americans/US Citizens), the rest were people who had died from their injuries, or of radiation sickness, by December 1945)
b) Nagasaki 74,000 - of which 40,000 died instantly, and the rest having died from their injuries, or of radiation sickness, by December 1945.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
3. Some sources estimate fewer deaths (instant and subsequent). However, there are reasons why certain sources would wish to downplay the numbers (i.e. they are atomic energy supporters or war apologists).
a) Australian Uranium Association
(i) Hiroshima 45,000 + 19,000 = 63,000
(ii) Nagasaki 22,000 + 17,000 = 39,000
http://www.uic.com.au/nip29.htm
b) War Bird Forum
Hiroshima 90,000
http://www.warbirdforum.com/hirodead.htm
c) Atomic Archive
(i) Hiroshima 66,000
(ii) Nagasaki 39,000
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/MED/med_chp10.shtml
4. However the Japanese/United States funded Radiation Effects Research Foundation compromises by quoting broad bands of figures:
a) Hiroshima 90,000-140,000
b) Nagasaki 60,000-80,000
http://www.rerf.or.jp/eigo/faqs/faqse.htm#faq1
5. By the way, the number of deaths at Nagasaki was lower than that at Nagsaki, despite the bomb being more powerful, because in 1945 they still relied on visual sighting of the target. On 9 August the weather was cloudy, and the Fat Man bomb was dropped through a gap in the clouds, but 3 kms away from the intended target centre, and so hills and valleys shielded the majority of the population of Nagasaki from the blast.
6. If you search on the net you will find that there are differences of opinion on the need for the bombings (Japan already negotiating with USA for an end to the hostilities, USA wanting to impress the Soviet Union for the post-war era etc.). There is also controversy over the choice of Nagasaki as a target, since Nagasaki was (and is) the main centre of Japanese Christianity.
7. Here are some video clips and stills of the aftermath.
http://www.history.com/media.do?action=clip&id=mf1_atomicbombings_63
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9608/10/japan.hiroshima.film/hirofilm.mov
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/levine/bombing.htm
http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/pmm.html
http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/frame/Virtual_e/visit_e/estPanel_3.html
2006-12-28 08:18:37
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answer #2
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answered by ♫ Rum Rhythms ♫ 7
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Yes,
Huggeywell is right,
We have the bigger stick!!!
2006-12-27 00:14:05
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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