Re-running Summer of Trinity, this time with episodes released at the start of their respective weeks rather than the end. Just for a different perspective. June 10 to June 16, 1945 This is Summer of Trinity, for the week ending Saturday June 16, 1945. Sunday, June 10,1945 - 36 Days Before Trinity It's the 71st day of the Battle of Okinawa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_William_D._Porter_(DD-579) Monday, June 11,1945 - 35 Days Before Trinity It's the 72nd day of the Battle of Okinawa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Miles_McCool Tuesday, June 12,1945 - 34 Days Before Trinity It is the 73rd day of the Battle of Okinawa. General Eisenhower receives the "Freedom of the City" at London's Guildhall. This symbolic act, with seven hundred years of history behind it, makes him "a citizen of the city." https://www.nps.gov/articles/general-eisenhower.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franck_Report Wednesday, June 13,1945 - 33 Days Before Trinity It is the 74th day of the Battle of Okinawa. Thursday, June 14,1945 - 32 Days Before Trinity It is the 75th day of the Battle of Okinawa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Inmate Friday, June 15,1945 - 31 Days Before Trinity It is the 76th day of the Battle of Okinawa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calutron (How they enriched U-235 for Little Boy) https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/science-behind-atom-bomb Saturday, June 16,1945 - 30 Days Before Trinity It's the 77th day of the Battle of Okinawa. The Science Panel, headed by Robert Oppenheimer, and also including Enrico Fermi, Ernest O. Lawrence and Arthur H. Compton, gives the following report, classified Top Secret, to the Interim Committee: The report is titled "RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE IMMEDIATE USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS" and begins as follows: [Note to self - some emphasis included here to assist in reading as a script, but there's no font differences in the original.] You have asked us to comment on the initial use of the new weapon. This use, in our opinion, should be such as to promote a satisfactory adjustment of our international relations. At the same time, we recognize our obligation to our nation to use the weapons to help save American lives in the Japanese war. (1) To accomplish these ends we recommend that before the weapons are used not only Britain, but also Russia, France, and China be advised that we have made considerable progress in our work on atomic weapons, that these may be ready to use during the present war, and that we would welcome suggestions as to how we can cooperate in making this development contribute to improved international relations. (2) The opinions of scientific colleagues on the initial use of these weapons are not unanimous; they range from the proposal of a purely technical demonstration to that of the military application best designed to induce surrender. Those who advocate a purely technical demonstration would wish to outlaw the use of atomic weapons, and have feared that if we use the weapons now our position in future negotiations will be prejudiced. Others emphasize the opportunity of saving American lives by immediate military use, and believe that such use will improve the international prospects, in that they are more concerned with the prevention of war than with the elimination of this specific weapon. We find ourselves closer to these latter views; we can propose no technical demonstration likely to bring an end to the war; we see no acceptable alternative to direct military use. (3) With regard to these general aspects of the use of atomic energy, it is clear that we, as scientific men, have no proprietary rights. It is true that we are among the few citizens who have had occasion to give thoughtful consideration to these problems during the past few years. We have, however, no claim to special competence in solving the political, social, and military problems which are presented by the advent of atomic power. The report is signed by Robert Oppenheimer, with the note "for the panel" https://www.atomicarchive.com/resources/documents/manhattan-project/interim-committee.html As this week ends, the Trinity atomic bomb test has not yet been scheduled. However, it is exactly 30 days away. Summer of Trinity is a part of Mapping History here on The Latest Generation.
