MANHATTAN PROJECT
1942 - 1945

The Manhattan Project was the name of a US government research project with the objective to create the first atomic bomb.

The clock was ticking. Intelligence indicated that the Germans were almost done with a similar research project of their own.

Already in 1939 scientists and United States government were working to this effect. Much of it took place at Columbia University, Manhattan, NY, NY, hence the name.

The entire task was given a priority when the US joined World War II on December 8, 1941. By 1943, scientists of Great Britain and Canada were on board as well.

Work commenced at three large facilities that were constructed.

At Oak Ridge, near Knoxville, Tennessee, and at Hanford, Washington, the nuclear fuels, uranium and plutonium, were developed.

In 1943, J.R. Oppenheimer became director of the newly created laboratory at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Oppenheimer is credited with being the driving force behind building a workable bomb by the end of the war.

Los Alamos scientists devised two bomb designs, one using uranium 235 and another using plutonium. The uranium bomb was a simple design and scientists were confident it would work without testing. The plutonium bomb was more complex and project leaders decided a test of the plutonium bomb was essential before it could be used as a weapon of war.

From a list of eight sites in California, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, Trinity Site was chosen. The area was already controlled by the government because it was part of the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range which was established in 1942. The secluded Jornada del Muerto was perfect as it provided isolation for secrecy and safety, but was still close to Los Alamos.

Because of the possibility of a dud, a huge steel container called Jumbo was designed and built in Ohio. Originally, it was 25 feet long, 10 feet in diameter and weighed 214 tons. Scientists were planning to put the bomb in this steel jug to contain the plutonium if the nuclear chain reaction failed to materialize. If the explosion occurred as planned, Jumbo would be vaporized.

Jumbo was brought to Pope, N.M., by rail, and unloaded. A specially-built trailer with 64 wheels was used to move Jumbo the 25 miles to Trinity Site.

As confidence in the plutonium bomb design grew, it was decided not to use Jumbo. Instead, it was placed under a steel tower about 800 yards from ground zero. The blast destroyed the tower, but Jumbo survived intact.

Today it rests at the entrance to ground zero so all can see it. The ends are missing because, in 1946, the Army placed eight 500-pound bombs inside it and detonated them.

So, back to researching days. Success at last on July 16, 1945, at 5.30 in the morning. The location? Alamogordo Military Base, New Mexico.

First the intense light flash, then a sudden wave of heat, then a tremendous roar, then the mushroom cloud.

A month later, two atomic bombs produced by the project were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The first used uranium-235 and the second plutonium,
 

Twice a year, you can visit the site where the first atomic bomb was exploded today.