MONDAY, 6 AUGUST 1945
20th Air Force: The world's first atomic attack takes place. At 2:45pm B-29 "Enola Gay" 44-86292 piloted by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets with atomic bomb "Little Boy" took off from North
Field on Tinian. At 2-minute intervals, followed by B-29 "Great Artiste" piloted by Major
Charles W. Sweeney and B-29 Number 91 piloted by Captain George W. Marquardt.
At 8:15am from 31,600' the atomic bomb is released over Hiroshima it explodes fifty seconds later. 80+% of the
city's buildings are destroyed and over 71,000 people killed according to Japanese figures (or 70,000–80,000 according to U.S.
figures). Afterwards, B-29 "Enola Gay" 44-86292 lands at 2:58pm followed within the hour by the two observation B-29s. Almost
100 fighters from Iwo Jima attack airfields and military installations at six locations around Tokyo.
Fourteenth Air Force: In China, 10 P-51s and P-47s damage 10 locomotives
between Tehsien and Suchow and 5 around Anyang, Kaifeng, and Loyang, and lightly
damage bridges N of Chihsien and S of Houmachen.
MALAYA: P-38s attack Singapore, two were shot down.
WESTERN PACIFIC [Far East Air Force (FEAF)]: Okinawa-based aircraft pound
targets on Kyushu; 150+ P-47s and A-26s fight bad weather to hit the
primary, Miyakonojo; 170+ B-24s, B-25s, and P-47s hit Kagoshima as a secondary
target; and 60+ B-25s and P-51s attack shipping and ground targets of opportunity
in the Tsushima Strait area and in the N Ryukyu Islands. P-51s operating in
the area between Kyushu and Korea bomb an airfield and strafe numerous targets
of opportunity on Saishu Island and P-47s bomb Anjo on Tanega Island. Other
aircraft, operating individually or in pairs, hit various targets of opportunity on the southern Korea coast, in the Inland Sea, S Honshu,
west Shikoku, throughout the N Ryukyu Islands, and in the Shanghai area. B-24s pound resistance pockets on Negros Island in the Philippine Islands.
Unit moves: HQ 3d Bombardment Group and 89th and 90th Bombardment Squadrons
from San Jose to Okinawa with A-26s; HQ 8th Fighter
Group and 36th Fighter Squadron from San Jose to Ie Shima with
P-38s; ground echelon of 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance
Group, from Lingayen Airfield to Okinawa (air echelon remains at Clark
Field with F-5s).
IJN: J7W1 Shinden Prototype No. 1 made a second short, successful test flight piloted by designer Captain Masaoki Tsuruno.
USMC: Lost is PBJ Mitchell 35114 (MIA).
USN: USS Bullhead (SS-332) is sunk by JAAF Ki-51 Sonia off Bali.
