Physical Damage, Nagasaki Part 1

Description

MLS Stationary shot then a pan L to R showing the Acetylene Plant SW of the large gas holder in Target F. The acetylene plant is situated approx. 3000 feet from zero at 348 degrees and is shown as seen from 300 feet S of the Urakami Gas Holder. Pan shot L to R of the Acetylene Plant. Pan shot L to R looking N at the S wall of the reinforced concrete acetylene plant showing the collapse of the S wall from the E and W walls. The reinforcements have been torn from concrete. The blast effect on the S wall and the failure of that wall caused complete collapse of the roof and stopped operation of the acetylene plant. MS Gas holder approx. 3000 feet from zero at 348 degrees as seen from a point 300 feet SW of Urakami Gas Holder. MC Up angle twisted steel frame of gas holder. MS Pan R to L, E wall of the Acetylene Plant showing manner in which the main structural members of the roof were torn from reinforced concrete columns of the S wall. MC Same as above showing S wall collapse of roof upon the heavy machinery (compressors). Note compressors are covered with scrap tin as protection from the elements. MS Pan L to R, or E to W, showing a typical Japanese wooden truss roof which shows a 12 foot displacement to the N. Located approx. 4600 feet from zero at 353 degrees. This view is looking from the SE corner of the machine shop towards the SW corner of the building. MS Looking E thru a window frame on the E side of the Administration Building from which the glass is gone showing the rubble E of the building in the Mitsubishi Urakami Ordinance Plant. Short pan and a stationary shot from the NW corner of the roof of the Administration Building showing air compression chambers for torpedoes stacked in a field NW of the Administration Building. Also shown is the damage inflicted on a building just W of the administration building and another just N of it in the Mitsubishi Urakami Ordinance Plant. LS Looking N from the roof of the administration building and then panning L to R, or N to NW, showing structural failure and complete removal of roofing material from the buildings N and NW of the Administration Building. Pan shot L to R, or N to NE, taken from the N end of the roof of the Administration Building of the Mitsubishi Urakami Ordnance Plant located approx. 4000 feet from zero at 358 degrees to 1 degrees showing the effect of blast on light steel frame buildings which have been not only completely deroofed but structurally damaged. LS Taken from NE corner of the roof of the Administration Building looking NW across the plant which shows the tremendous area of partial structural collapse and deroofing of steel frame structures. MS Pan from E edge of the roof showing rubble in its usual chaotic arrangement E of the Administration Building. Rubble to the E of the Administration building as seen from the roof of that building in the background is USSBS building #4, located approx. 4000 feet from zero at 14 degrees, 17mm lens is used. Same as above with a 25mm lens. Same as above with a 75mm lens panned from bridge #4 to the Catholic Missionary School. Exterior dolly shot along the S end of the main torpedo machine shop of the Mitsubishi Urakami Ordnance Plant. The dolly shot starts at the E end of the building and moves to the W. The scene shows the structural failure which extends for the entire length of the building. The entire side of the structure has been completely displaced and the original foundation of the displaced wall is clearly visible in the foreground. Target is located approx. 4900 feet from zero at 4 degrees. MLS Looking N along the trolley car track directly W from zero point the effects of the A bomb on the overhead trolley electrical system which was torn to shreds, the steel poles which are bent and the rails which are distorted. Along the extreme R of way there is nothing but a mass of rubble and debris. MLS Same set up as above, view along the trolley car tracks showing the debris while a main line passenger train heads N along the railroad tracks which is open for traffic. LS Looking S along the trolley car tracks showing what was once a trolley station. A large electrical power pole has fallen across the tracks and the station. Debris almost obliterates the tracks and the area is largely composed of nothing but a mass of splintered wood, crumpled metal and steel, and shattered pieces of tile. MS Street car tracks looking N from a point W of the prison. The steel columns carrying the overhead trolley wires have been distorted, uprooted, or completely bent over. Position 1200 feet from zero at 331 degrees. LS Showing structural failure of steel columns supporting the overhead electrical street car wires. Shots taken approx. 1000 feet from zero at 331 degrees showing Lt. A.E. Fessel, USSBS team, examining debris. MS Lt. Fessel crouches down to examine slat of concrete. MC Same as above, pan up with action as Lt. Fessel moves his fingers along the badly flash burned slat of concrete. CU Bubble formation on concrete. ECU Closer shot of bubble formation. ECU Micro CU to show detail of bubble formation. ECU Showing the piece of reinforced concrete which was affected by flash burn. The scene opens with a pan shot from the top of the wall casing to the bottom which was in contact with the earth. The variation in the color of the bubbles has been occasioned primarily by the variation in the amount of iron oxide on the clay which adhered to the lower section of the casing. The reinforced wire is approx. 1/8 inch in diameter. Bubble length above surface is approx. 1/2 inch. CU Of the concrete casing with a tape stretched across to show the overall dimensions. A series of shots taken at the street car terminal barns 600 feet from zero at 338 degrees. MLS Burning street car. MLS Wrecked street cars and debris scattered about the terminal. LS Burning street cars in the foreground while in the far background a S bound train passes by. MC Japanese workmen are shown dismantling a street car which was wrecked by blast. MS Street car on fire. MC Same as above, closer shot. MLS Same as above, debris and twisted track. MS Pan L to R showing railroad tracks covered with debris. Note the base of steel column which supported overhead cable where failure took place when mast was forced to ground. MCU Showing base of steel mast imbedded in concrete. Note the spot where shear took place. Another view, different angle, pan along column. MCS Pan L to R showing mass of bleached human bones near zero. Taken in what was once a factory. MS Metal casings, controller boxes. CU Controller box which reads on the name plate, "Westinghouse Electric Company, USA", two shots. MS Showing position of concrete well casing where it might have been at the instant the bomb detonated. Note similar type of debris, reinforcements, curvature and texture of concrete. MC Same as above, closer shot. MCU Of similar but more heavily constructed well casing which suffered structural damage but apparently was shielded from flash burn. MS Street scene, an ox drawing a cart along the highway with complete devastation all around. Target No. 90:36-2002. MS Interior, unidentified machine shop showing collapsed roof onto heavy machinery, also a pan shot from L to R to roof beams, then continues upwards and along collapsed roof. LS Pan, establishing shot of building C located 4900 feet from zero at 357 degrees looking W. Wooden truss structure has been completely displaced from its foundation. This wooden structure lies to the N of its original location, while the reinforced concrete structure in the background has not been seriously effected. Two takes. MS High pan shot from the top of the reinforced concrete portion of building C looking NE at the wooden truss structure which is completely collapsed. Looking NW showing the collapse and displaced wooden truss structure and in the background the various types of experimental research equipment and debris in the foreground. CU Of the splintered and displaced wooden truss structure of building C. MS Looking NW across the field N of building B where torpedo components are stored. CU Individual torpedo components including torpedo compression chambers which are now rusting in the sun. CU Individual torpedo components, looking NE across the storage area. CU Individual torpedo components looking approx. due N across the torpedo parts storage lot. Note Japanese markings of identification on top of each torpedo. MS A heavy lathe located in the first bay near the S wall of building J approx. 85 feet from SE corner of the building; portions of steel frame building including steel casement windows have been forced against the machines. In the background is a mass of twisted columns and girders which once formed the S wall of building J. MCU A Japanese laborer entering the scene from L to R to inspect the machinery trapped by the collapsed wall and roof. Still in the position which it was last placed by workmen. A pair of callipers hangs on the lathe. The Japanese laborer moved the callipers and reveals the shadow of the pair of callipers and the wire from which they were hanging, on the portion of the machine which was protected from flash burn. CU Of the callipers and wire on which they were hung on the machine and their shadow on the area protected from flash burn. LS Taken from the SE corner of building J located approx. 4300 feet from zero at 9 degrees looking W along the S wall showing complete structural failure of the entire wall. In the foreground the main roof members and steel columns of bay one have completely collapsed along the entire S wall. MS Two heavy machines located in bay one of building J on which the S wall of the building has collapsed. This shot was taken approx. one fourth of the way in from the E corner of the S wall. CU Of the broken casting of the machine previously shown, which was caused by failure of the S wall. A steel column from the S wall of building and steel casement window frame now rests on the machine. MS Of torpedo air compression chambers under the collapsed S wall of building J. MS Showing a compression effect of the pressure wave on the metal top of a Dodge sedan. The car is located just W of building G located 2300 feet from zero at 123 degrees. LS Looking almost N at the boiler house then the two smoke stacks showing the manner in which one of them is displaced. LS Of the sidewalk which skirts the W edge of the University Hospital Complex, as seen from building P, showing trees which have been felled by the blast. Debris covers the foreground. LS Building D, a light frame building constructed of wood with a wooden truss roof, located approx. 5400 feet from zero at 4 degrees. This building is the most N one in the Urakami Ordnance Plant. Its' longitudinal axis is E/W and it is situated approx. 450 feet W of building Q, the Torpedo Testing Basin. This view shows the SE corner of the building, the entire structure has been sheared from its concrete foundation and moved towards the N; the wooden truss has collapsed and is now resting on the machine tools which it once covered. MS Taken from the SE corner of the machine shop, building D, looking along the S side of the building showing the displaced wooden truss roof, the original foundation, exposed machined badly weathered, and uprooted tree which now rests on a bank of machines. Looking E along the S wall of the machine shop, building D, showing the degree to which two 1 1/2 inch inside diameter electrical conduit pipes have been bent toward the N by the blast. CU Of the two pies which have been protecting a 4X4 inch beam from flash burn, and have left two shadows on the 4X4. A Japanese sawed the 4X4 just to the left of the flash burn in order to secure timber for rebuilding a home. MS Metal lathe located in the center of a machine shop approx. 5400 feet from zero at 4 degrees, showing the roof resting on a bank of lathes. Shattered corrugated asbestos roofing and debris cover the floor. CU Debris on the floor including a pair of sandals. MLS Showing a bank of lathes along the N side of machine shop with the displaced wooden truss in the background. MLS Looking E along the N wall showing the direction and amount of roof displacement. Several timbers were taken by the Japanese for use in their homes. CU Of flash burns on the S face of an air raid shelter just E of the wooden truss machine shop showing a shadow cast by a piece of vegetation. The weed was apparently killed by the burn but the wood behind it was unaffected. MCU Air raid shelter, the S portion of which has been affected by the flash burn. A Japanese boy enters the shelter and pushes aside the vegetation which overhangs the entrance revealing the shadows cast by the Pampos grass. CU A telephone pole, located approx. 200 feet NE of building D showing the effect of flash burn on wood, located 5500 feet from zero at 50 degrees. The lower portion of the stone pole was protected by a concrete fence which was subsequently overturned by the blast.

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities