A Manhattan Project Veteran Had a Unique View of Atomic Bomb Work

The New York Times ^ | 26 July 2015 | James Barron

[Theoria]

Benjamin Bederson turned past the page in the diary from long ago, the page he had burned a hole through, and mentioned things he had done since that summer of 1945. “Was an experimental atomic physicist,” he said. “Worked as a professor at New York University, taught almost every course in physics, was editor in chief of the American Physical Society and helped usher physics journals into the electronic age.”

He left out the part about helping to usher in the atomic age — the part about testing the ignition switches for the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. The part about having been one of the lowest-ranking soldiers assigned to the Manhattan Project, the huge research-and-development effort that delivered the first atomic devices, and as a corporal or a private in his early 20s, one of the youngest. The part about having been one of the few soldiers sent to key spots at key moments as the work progressed.

“That makes it sound a little grandiose,” Dr. Bederson, now 93, said modestly.

He did not even have his bachelor’s degree then, having suspended his undergraduate work at City College of New York to join the Army Signal Corps as a civilian. Before long, he was drafted, and after three days of basic training in Atlantic City, the Army sent him to Illinois and Ohio — and then canceled the program it had put him in to learn electrical engineering. His commanding officer had heard that something called the Manhattan Project was looking for soldiers, and told him to apply.

“He knew I was a loudmouthed New Yorker,” said Dr. Bederson, who grew up in the Bronx. “He said, ‘Here’s your chance to get back to New York.’”

[Smber]

If you want to read the definitive, in my opinion, book on the Manhattan Project, read Richard Rhodes’ “The Making of the Atomic Bomb”. It takes you from Leo Szilard’s idea through to July, 1945. Absolutely fascinating!!

[Blogatron]

I've been following the daily posts on the war 70 years ago. At this point in the war US and British carriers were cruising unchallenged off the east coast of Japan and launching fighter-bomber raids with 100's of planes and sinking Japanese battleships docked in their harbors. B-29's were dropping 1000's of tons of bombs on each raid and setting major cities on fire. Our battleships were parking just a few thousand yards off shore and blasting Japanese industry to ruins, completely unchallenged. They were almost completely helpless to stop it. If they had more sense than pride they would have surrendered weeks before the bomb was dropped. But then you look at the maps and see that Japan still controlled almost all of southeast Asia, a good third of China, all of Manchuria and Korea. They must not have thought they were losing.

[cva66snipe]

I had no idea how huge & involved that project just in Oak Ridge was until we watched the documentary on PBS. A whole city was created very quickly to accommodate the personnel that supported that project.

I live about 15 miles east of it. Yeah the reservation for the DOD/DOE plants is still large and several facilities are still in operation.

During WW2 to enter the city unless you were an employee you someone had to sign you in at one of about four gates in and out of town. The gates still stand actually or rather the fortified building the guards were in do. My aunt and uncle lived in Oak Ridge during the project. When my Mom went to visit her sister my uncle had to meet her at the gate to sign her into town. Now the city has also become somewhat of a sanctuary city for illegals.

[Oatka]

“Look to your right, then to your left. We are invading Japan. They are prepared to kill one out of every three of us.”

I remember a veteran talking about some Pacific invasion where his CO told him "Our casualties are going to be 50%." Both he and his buddy looked at each other and said "You poor bastard." He told that in answer to a question about being scared. You always thought the other guy would get it.

[Theoria]

'But then you look at the maps and see that Japan still controlled almost all of southeast Asia, a good third of China, all of Manchuria and Korea. '

One of the interesting points post WWII was the great repatriation of Japanese back to Japan from their 'colonies' and such.

This MacArthur report gives a taste of it, and this map.