The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Surrender of 4 U-boats-- Part 4: Uranium Oxide Used on 'Little Boy' Atom Bomb Found On One of Them

The two Japanese scientists aboard, however, were not alive as they had taken an overdose of sleeping rather be captured.  The Germans had buried them at sea.

The U.S. government, however, kept part of the U-234's cargo secret:  1,232 pounds of  uranium oxide that was later used in the Manhattan Project  for the Little Boy atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

German General Ulrich Kessler, assigned as the Luftwaffe liaison in Tokyo, made an impression as a typical German officer.  Tall and formal, he wore white gloves, a long gray leather greatcoat, polished leather boots and an Iron Cross around his neck.  He seemed to enjoy the publicity.

Kessler spoke in fluent English with a British accent.   When asked how he felt about surrendering, he said,  "I was in the last World War.  I've been through it before.  I'll probably go through it again."

--GreGen


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