Other observers may disagree with Ashworth ’ s details and views - especially because so much time has passed since August 9, 1945. Years later, New York Times science reporter Sandra Blakeslee worked closely with Bradbury to craft the article below from Ashworth ’ s recollections, and to locate corroborating accounts, interviews, and other support materials. Ashworth had been the operations officer in charge of the final testing and assembly of the “ Fat Man ” atomic bomb components, and he was in command of the device while aboard the plane that actually dropped the weapon on Nagasaki. Ashworth revealed some little-known information about the dropping of the Nagasaki atomic bomb to his friend and neighbor, Ellen Bradbury, who subsequently wrote it down. Before he died in 2005, retired Navy man Frederick L.
Editor ’ s note: Due to popular demand we thought it appropriate to reprint this Bulletin article, which deals with an often-overlooked aspect of the atomic bombings in Japan.įirst, some background.
