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Lot #346
Enola Gay: Morris Jeppson Typed Letter Signed on Hiroshima

The Enola Gay's assistant weaponeer justifies the atomic bomb: "A very large invasion of Japan was scheduled for November 1945 and would have cost hundreds of thousands of casualties"

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Description

The Enola Gay's assistant weaponeer justifies the atomic bomb: "A very large invasion of Japan was scheduled for November 1945 and would have cost hundreds of thousands of casualties"

TLS signed “Morris Jeppson,” one page, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, October 15, 2007. Letter concerning his participation in the Enola Gay's mission to drop the first atomic bomb, in full: "Regarding the Hiroshima mission, there were some personal thoughts, unimportant at the time because there was a feeling of great responsibility to make sure that the Atomic Bomb attack would work. The bomb, when detonated at 1600 feet above the ground, was traveling at the speed of sound. My responsibility was to test the fusing system during the flight to Hiroshima. The time from the bomb drop to detonation was 43 seconds. I counted 43 seconds and nothing happened. For a moment I felt dread, but I had counted too fast and it immediately detonated. Since 1945 declassified documents, both United States and Japanese, have revealed that a very large invasion of Japan was scheduled for November 1945 and would have cost hundreds of thousands of casualties both American and Japanese. The invasion of Japan was canceled after the second nuclear bomb and Allied personnel quickly headed home." In fine condition.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring Major Figures of Science and Technology
  • Dates: #665 - Ended May 10, 2023





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