National Air and Space Museum Archives

The Atomic Bomb [Knudsen]

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.2020.0029
Dates:
1945
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.53 Cubic feet
20 by 24 by 1 inch flat box
Repository:
This collection consists of an 18 inch by 21 inch spiral book, entitled, The Atomic Bomb, which was created by the United States Army Air Forces in 1945 to commemorate the success of the atomic bombs and the end of World War II.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of an 18 inch by 21 inch spiral book, entitled, The Atomic Bomb, which was created by the United States Army Air Forces in 1945 to commemorate the success of the atomic bombs and the end of World War II. This 17 page publication includes text, maps, and strike photography of the two atomic bomb sites, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 1945. This copy was given to Captain Roy F. Knudsen.

Arrangement

Arrangement
No arrangement as collection is just one item.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Boeing's B-29 Superfortress was the most sophisticated propeller-driven bomber of World War II, and the first bomber to house its crew in pressurized compartments. Although designed to fight in the European theater, the B-29 found its niche on the other side of the globe. In the Pacific, B-29s delivered a variety of aerial weapons: conventional bombs, incendiary bombs, mines, and two nuclear weapons. On August 6, 1945, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Silverplate, "Enola Gay" dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan. On August 9, 1945, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Silverplate, "Bockscar" dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
Biographical / Historical
Captain Roy F. Knudsen (1918 - 2011), graduated from the 10th Class of the Aviation Cadet Detachment at Scott Field, Illinois in August, 1942. Initially assigned to the 1st Mapping Group at Bolling Field, Washington, DC, Knudsen was later rassigned to the 2nd Photo Charting Squadron at Felts Field, WA. In August, 1944, Knudson was assigned to the 1st Photo Charting Group while later in October of that year he was assigned to the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, both located at Buckley Field, CO. In April, 1945, he was sent to Smoky Hill Army Air Field in Salina, KS, for training on communications equipment installation for B-29 aircraft. He was then deployed to the Pacific Theater, based on Guam where his squadron was responsible for the aerial reconnaissance leading up to and following the atomic bomb attacks in August of 1945 and the end of the war. He left active duty upon his arrival home in February 1946.

Administration

Author
Patti Williams
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gary Knudsen, Gift, 2020, NASM.2020.0029
Processing Information
Arranged, described, and encoded by Patti Williams, 2020.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Preferred Citation
The Atomic Bomb
[Knudsen], NASM.2020.0029, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1939-1945 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Silverplate "Bocks Car" Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Silverplate "Enola Gay" Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Atomic bomb Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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