Hiroshima's horror on paper: Handwritten military plans for devastating atomic bomb attack expected to fetch £300,000 at auction


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Never seen before diagrams used to plan and execute the dropping of the world's first atomic bomb on Japan in a bid to end World War Two have emerged for sale 70 years after the historic mission.

The simple hand-drawn bombing plans detail exactly how and when the crew of the Enola Gay B29 bomber unleashed their deadly payload over the port city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.

The previously unseen documents are among a £300,000 ($440,000) archive of material compiled by Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, which also includes his flight logs and report of the bombing raid.

London's Bonhams is auctioning rare documents from the Hiroshima bombing (diagram shown). They were compiled by Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay. The plane dropped its deadly payload on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. The documents included previously unseen drawings and log book entries

London's Bonhams is auctioning rare documents from the Hiroshima bombing (diagram shown). They were compiled by Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay. The plane dropped its deadly payload on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. The documents included previously unseen drawings and log book entries

One bombing plan, drawn in pencil and coloured inks on a single sheet of blue graph paper, shows how the Enola Gay would approach Hiroshima at an altitude of 30,000ft (9,000 metres).

It then details how the plane would drop its payload two miles short of the target, then veer away and turn 150 degrees to the right to return at 28,500ft (8,700 metres).

The plan also shows the air burst at under half a mile up over the city and the subsequent shock waves that the explosion would create.

A second plan, titled 'survival manoeuvres', expands on the initial diagram to show the flight paths of support planes The Great Artiste and Necessary Evil.

HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI 

The United States attacked the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs during the final stages of World War II in 1945. The two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.

The war in Europe ended when Nazi Germany surrendered on 8 May, but the Pacific War continued.

Together with the UK and the Republic of China, the United States called for the surrender of Japan, threatening the country with 'prompt and utter destruction'. The Japanese government ignored this ultimatum.

American airmen then dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed with another over Nagasaki on 9 August.

Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki, with roughly half of the deaths in each city occurring on the first day.

On August 15, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan announced its surrender to the Allies, signing the Instrument of Surrender on 2 September, officially ending World War Two. 

The diagram concludes with a handwritten note reading: 'Caution - stay at least 2/3 miles away from the atomic cloud at all times.'

Experts at auctioneers Bonhams have tipped the drawings to fetch £26,000 ($38,000) in two separate lots when they go under the hammer as part of Captain Lewis' incredible archive of material.

The collection is being sold by his son, Stephen.

Also for sale is Captain Lewis' two log books from his time as a pilot in WWII noting flight plan, duration, type of plane, engines and horsepower - with a column for remarks.

On combat missions he noted details of targets, bomb altitude and poundage dropped.

The two log books are tipped to fetch £130,000 ($190,000).

The auction takes place on 29 April in New York. 

A copy of Captain Lewis' unofficial eye-witness account of the Hiroshima mission, which he disguised as a letter to his mother and father, could sell for £40,000 ($60,000), while a set of official papers detailing his career with the US Air Force have a £100,000 ($150,000) price tag.

An estimated 150,000 Japanese people died when US forces dropped the atom bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, on Hiroshima obliterating as much as 70 per cent of the city.

The mission was followed up three days later with another bombing raid on the industrial city of Nagasaki, inflicting similar devastating damage.

The terrifying outcome of the two bombing missions forced the Japanese to accept the Allies' demands for absolute surrender, thus bringing about an end to World War Two.

The two atomic bombings carried out on Japan by the US remain the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.

Unlike his contemporaries Captain Paul Tibbets, commander of the Enola Gay, and navigator Theodore Van Kirk, Captain Lewis chose not to cash in on his fame in the post-war years.

Only one item belonging to Captain Lewis has ever been sold before - the log he wrote on the return flight from dropping the bomb on Hiroshima in which he wrote the famous line: 'My God, what have we done?'

American airmen then dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (left), followed with another over Nagasaki on 9 August (right). Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000 to 166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 in Nagasaki - half in the first day

American airmen then dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (left), followed with another over Nagasaki on 9 August (right). Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000 to 166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 in Nagasaki - half in the first day

Shown is the extend of the explosion when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It created a blast equivalent to 16 kilotons of TNT. The radius of total destruction was about one mile (1.6 km), with resulting fires across 4.4 square miles (11 square kilometres)

Shown is the extend of the explosion when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It created a blast equivalent to 16 kilotons of TNT. The radius of total destruction was about one mile (1.6 km), with resulting fires across 4.4 square miles (11 square kilometres)

An allied correspondent stands in a sea of rubble before the shell of a building that once was a movie theater in Hiroshima, on 8 September 1945. On 6 August 6 1945, an atomic bomb instantly destroyed almost all of the houses and buildings in Hiroshima

An allied correspondent stands in a sea of rubble before the shell of a building that once was a movie theater in Hiroshima, on 8 September 1945. On 6 August 6 1945, an atomic bomb instantly destroyed almost all of the houses and buildings in Hiroshima

Pictured is Captain Lewis, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. His simple hand-drawn bombing plans detail exactly how and when the crew of the Enola Gay B29 bomber were to unleash their deadly payload over the port city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945

Pictured is Captain Lewis, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. His simple hand-drawn bombing plans detail exactly how and when the crew of the Enola Gay B29 bomber were to unleash their deadly payload over the port city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945

This astonishing entry into Captain Lewis' log book reveals the turmoil the crew was going through, having been ordered to drop an atomic bomb on tens of thousands of people. 'My God what have we done,' Captain Lewis wrote. This is expected to sell for £27,000 to £40,000

This astonishing entry into Captain Lewis' log book reveals the turmoil the crew was going through, having been ordered to drop an atomic bomb on tens of thousands of people. 'My God what have we done,' Captain Lewis wrote. This is expected to sell for £27,000 to £40,000

Tom Lamb, an expert in military history at Bonhams, said: 'Captain Robert Lewis spent his entire military career practising for the one bombing run on Hiroshima.

'He copied the bombing plan from one handed out in a briefing and then folded it up and put it in his pocket.

'Captain Lewis actually got the flight height wrong - it says on the plan to come in at 30,000ft [9,100 metres] but he actually flew in at 35,000ft [10,700 metres].

'That error proves this plan was drawn prior to the flight because otherwise it would have the correct altitude on it.

The two atomic bombs dropped on Japan are controversially said to have forced the country's surrender and ended World War Two - although that is debated. Pictured is the atomic cloud over Nagasaki from Koyagi-jima, taken by Hiromichi Matsuda

The two atomic bombs dropped on Japan are controversially said to have forced the country's surrender and ended World War Two - although that is debated. Pictured is the atomic cloud over Nagasaki from Koyagi-jima, taken by Hiromichi Matsuda

Hiroshima, pictures, was completely decimated by the explosion. People on the ground reported seeing a pika or brilliant flash of light followed by a don, a loud booming sound. Some 70,000 to 80,000 people, of whom 20,000 were soldiers, or around 30 per cent of the population of Hiroshima, were killed by the blast

Hiroshima, pictures, was completely decimated by the explosion. People on the ground reported seeing a pika or brilliant flash of light followed by a don, a loud booming sound. Some 70,000 to 80,000 people, of whom 20,000 were soldiers, or around 30 per cent of the population of Hiroshima, were killed by the blast

'These guys really had no idea of the sheer destruction that dropping the atomic bomb would cause on Hiroshima.

'Lewis knew it was going to demolish the industrial zone of the city but he had no comprehension that it would wipe out much of the city.

'He felt upset afterwards and wrote on the return flight 'My God, what have we done?' but unlike Tibbets and Van Kirk, who took advantage of their new-found notoriety, Lewis stayed out of the limelight.

'He wanted to keep all the mementoes of his time in the war for his family.

'The bombing plans are among a collection of documents Captain Lewis put together charting his incredible career.

'These fascinating and hugely historically important documents have never been seen before.'

RARE MAP OF THE MOON ALSO UP FOR AUCTION 

A rare map of the moon, shown above, taken by astronauts when they were exploring the lunar surface is about to go on sale for the first time at RR Auctions in New Hampshire, US.

The incredible plan - complete with handwritten noted indicating specific craters and distances - made the journey to and from the moon during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971.

Astronaut Dave Scott has kept it ever since he came back to Earth and is now selling it - with a starting price of just £680 ($1,000).

The mint condition keepsake accompanied him and fellow space explorer Jim Irwin in the time he stepped out of his space ship and spent three days exploring the surface of the moon.

It was mounted on their vehicle - the Lunar Rover - in case it ever ran into difficulty and they needed a map to guide them back to their ship on foot.

Thankfully, it was never called into action. 

A spokesperson for RR Auctions, who are selling the map from April 16, said: 'This is truly an absolutely outstanding and historically significant piece.'

Shown are manuscript training notes and mimeographed copies of Captain Lewis' bomb plan and survival manoeuvre, expected to sell for £3,300 to £5,400.    The previously unseen documents are among a £300,000 archive of material compiled by Captain Lewis

Shown are manuscript training notes and mimeographed copies of Captain Lewis' bomb plan and survival manoeuvre, expected to sell for £3,300 to £5,400. The previously unseen documents are among a £300,000 archive of material compiled by Captain Lewis

A collection of 10 black and white vintage photographs of the Enola Gay, one shown, dated July - August 1945, are expected to sell for £1,300 to £2,000

A collection of 10 black and white vintage photographs of the Enola Gay, one shown, dated July - August 1945, are expected to sell for £1,300 to £2,000

Pictured are the manuscript flight logs of Captain Lewis, expected to sell for £100,000 to £130,000. An estimated 150,000 Japanese people died when US forces dropped the atom bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, on Hiroshima obliterating as much as 70 per cent of the city

Pictured are the manuscript flight logs of Captain Lewis, expected to sell for £100,000 to £130,000. An estimated 150,000 Japanese people died when US forces dropped the atom bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, on Hiroshima obliterating as much as 70 per cent of the city

Captain Lewis was born in New Jersey in 1917 and after graduating in 1937 he joined the US Air Force, gaining his wings in 1942.

He became one of the lead test pilots for the US's new B29 bomber, flying almost daily between 1944 to 1945 practising the bombing runs they were to carry out on Japan.

In 1979 Captain Lewis began compiling records of his military career which were then passed to his son Stephen on his death in 1983.

Mr Lewis said: 'When my father retired in 1979 he decided to do something significant about his World War II experiences.

'It was then that he began to write down all the things he had records of concerning his military career from Aviation Cadet up to and including the first atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

'I have decided that now is the appropriate time to reveal my unique collection to the world for consideration.' 



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