Above, the mushroom cloud rises above Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.Today marks the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
It was on Monday, August 6, 1945, at 8:15 AM, that the bomb, dubbed "Little Boy" was carried to its final destination by the B-29, Enola Gay. The bomb exploded several hundred feet above the city, causing widespread damage.
The blast initially killed an estimated 80,000 people. The after-effects, injury and radiation poisoning brought the casualty toll to 90,000-140,000.
Several days later, a second a-bomb was dropped on the city of Nakasaki on the island of Kyushu. Japan surrendered soon after, thus ending World War II.
I visited Hiroshima in August 2004, almost to the day of the 59th anniversary with G-TOUR (comprised of 60 Godzilla fans).
Above, the Atomic Dome in August 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.Today, there is little evidence of the bombing with the only physical reminder is the Atomic Dome, pictured above. The Hiroshima Peace Museum at Peace Memorial Park contains exhibits of the bombing.
The atomic bombings were a major influence of the Godzilla character.
The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan contains travel information Hiroshima and Nakasaki.
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