VOLUME I I PHY SICAL DAMAGE HIROSijIMA J APAN CLASSlFICJ TIO• CilCELLED DJ TE IIAR 5 Wf J'or the Atomio lner17 Commission Cb1e Deolaeai ' ··-------------- I • 77-VH-71- - I AERIAL VIEi l OF ZERO POI lT This view looking directly down on zero point h0'7a the target area complet ly leveled except tor mult1-stoey rointorced concrete bu1ld1ngs Roots end 1ntormed1ate floors collapsed on tive ot these buildings leaving extor1or llo partially standing Tbo k spots on the roots ot other buildings are depressions ro med by the downward distortion ot the root structure 17- t If I • • 17-Vfl-ff _ I PRE-STRIKE AERIAL VIEW This pre-strike aerial view ot Hirosh1Jl l sbows the high density or the built up area Fire lanes formed by razing frame buildings may be seen in this view Tr e Japanese wer e hurriedly extending these l anes in antic1nat1on or incendiary raids POST STRIKE AERIAL VIDV Ttis picture taken on tbe day ot the explosion shows dense smoke obsctll ing tbe target area This picture was ptotoeraphed rrom an elevation ot 25 000 feet • • MILITARY AREA 0 6 Mile North of Zero Point This aerial view shows almost complete d struction or ordnance storage and administrative buildings located in the northeast section of the military area • _ -L •• · ·-ffo h i I 11J O'J ' fr - --r J- t _ t • f j · l HIROSHIMA JAPAN POST STRIKE • S9'tlon I • AERIAL VIEW This post-strike view looking from west to east shows devastation from zero point to 0 4 mile south of zero point • I I 77- ✓1-1 - E The following two aerial views show the locat1oni of Zero Point over which the atom bomb wa exploded The buildings remaining in this vicinity have been numbered for identifi• cation in following pictures Location of two bridges demolished by the blast may be seen • 17-VH-JT· IY 3 VIEW AT ZERO POINT0 This is a view from Zero Point looking East o The trunk of a small tree remained standing since the force of the blast was directly downward i n this area Other views of buildings shown here may be identified i n preceding and following pictures by referring to building numbers SUrvival of the tree indicates the absence of intense heat at tl'ie time of t he e rplosion • • VIE 7 NEAil ZERO POlNT Frorr Buildlng No 7 300 tt East ot Zero View lonkin r ortt acrose tte '111 tary Area Building No is on the ex- treite left Picture bf w o Penney • co RCIAL MOSEOll 700 Feet West ot Zero ·Point ' rhis view is similar to that in tt e preceding picture Picture by W G Penney • • • GOKOKU SERINE l 4 Mile NNW of Zero Point This is a close-up0 of one of the statues looking toward Zero Pointtt Li ght surfaces 9n the base of the statues are areas roughened by the blast The original surface was pol ished granite but the sand blast effect produced by the blast has roughened the exposed surfaces and a portion of the surface on the side away from the blast as s hown heree •• • • This view is looking northea t across Zero Point Tto ccncrote stock approxieately 200 reet tro Zero Po1ntrt survived the blast since t e direction of the bla t was aaoat d1roctly dow m ard in this area Tbe oorner or a brick building shown in -the following picturo may bo 1een on the extreme left e COUQRET§ YAULJ 200 tt north or Zero Point Close- up snowing dam ago described 111th preoed1ng picture • ·• 200 tt north of Zero Point This vie looking north a st shows a concrete vault all tbat remain of a building of wood construction The Russo-Japanese War MemoPial may be seen on the extreme left The end wall and alf the sidewalk nearest the blast filed under the blast press·u re Vault doors are loc·ated on the opposite side of the vault The two folloWing pictures s o reinforcing steel close�up vie s of the vault and Mnile the w lls of the vault failed under the impact of the blast the walls of a reinforced concrete building nearby are still truet• urally intact space This is a parently ue to the difference n indo The two small vault wtndors did not allow pressur to build up in the vault interior as rapidly as the building interior thereby subjecting the vault �alls to greater stresses r CONCRETE VAULT 200 ft north of Zero Point Close-up showing reinforcing steel • • • DESTRUCTION NEAR ZERO POINT · ·· This view looking west from near zero '· oint shows rubble remaining after fires swept through the demolished buildings ollowing the blast j DEVASTED AREA SOUTH OF ZERO POINT This view l ooking south from near 11 Zero Poi nt shows complete devastation in the i mmediate vicinit y The collapsed Hiroshima Gas Company Bldg No 11 may be seen on the extreme left of t ris picture A brick building No 12 is completely demolished except for one wall The Chugoko Electric Company Building 0 4 mile from Zero Point1• may be seen in the back ground • 7 7 tlf · E-'- o - - ' In this picture a soldier 1s standing at the epicenter or Zero Point of t he axplosion The buildings shown are east of Zero Point the two on the left numbers 14 and 15 are approximately 600 feet from Zero Pointn The two on the r i ght numbers 6 and 8 are approximately 200 feet from Zero Point The blast pressure was almost directly down on the roofs of t hese buildings The roof and intermediate floors of buildi ng No • 6 collapsed to the ground f loor and may bf seen more clearly in the preceeding aerial view and the following close-up • HIBO §lllMA GAS COMPANY BUII J ING O l 11le Oouth of ero Point Tl iis view look1np south from the roof of tle Sanwa Banlt Building Bldg No 8 srows the collapsed tr ree-story Hirosh1lr a Gas Company Building O l mile from Zero Point The roof and intermediate floors ot the building in the l eft foreground were collapsed by tte blast The street shown here had not been entirely cleared ot debris two ontbs after tre explosion • • HIROSHIMA GAS COMPANY BUILDING Gol Mile South of Zero Point Tris close-up shows an unusual effect or blast pressure acting almost vertically dowaward on t he roof of a reinforced concrete frame buil dingo Three interior columns that supported roof beams are still standing the beams having sheared off all owing the root to collapse The concrete stack on the corner did not fail under the compression loading caused by downward pressure o Pi ct ure by W G Penney • HIROSHIMA GAS COMPANY BUILDING 0 1 Mile South of Zero Point This is a close-up of buildi ng NP 12 shown in t he preceding picture The concrete frame and roof collapsed on the side facing the blast A thin tile veneering was used on the exterior of the building Picture by W G Penney • l-' - ' • BRICK RUBBLE 300 Ft southwest of zero point This view shows total demolition of brick building near zero point • INTERIOR OF BUILDING NO 6 200 feet east of Eero Point This view shows complete failure of roof and intermediate floor of two- story building by blast pressure striking downward • BUILDING NO 6 200 Ft East of Zero Point This view looking west from building No 7 shows tre collapsed portion of the building The dome of building No 3 can be seen in the right background Picture by W G Penney ---- • VIEW NEAR ZERO POINTn View looking southwest from Sanwa Bank Building No 8 at brick rubble and foundation -· walls 300 feet from Zero Point The concrete staek survived the blast and 1s whitened on the side nearest the blast T e brick building outlined by the founda- tion wal ls was completely demolished COQERCIAL MUSEUU 700 Ft West or Zero Point This building was also called t1'e efeotural Display- Hall o Tt 1s pre-strike picture t aken from the river - the side opposite zero point - may be compare ith t he tollowing post- strike views Picture furnished by • O Penney • • • • v • • • · • • ·• ' i t - ·I · F · ' f _ ' • o s» -c · ❖-❖ f - -· • · l -lll 1111t y Tl ·· · ·· 0f@l l· I ·-· - -- ·A - · - I · • 11 v '' i · ' ' I jlf f i ilr l L J fJ - - ·_ tr ··• · · 1 t YI f l l 111 · JS ··• - ❖- - - - • ' _ H - -z i1 - •' ' ·_ • CO afERCIAL L'tJSEUJI 700 tt West ot Zero Point I This View from near Zero Point soows tl e remaining walls of tho Commercial luseu 1n the background T e steel to Gr in tto toreground collapsed in the direction of the blast The monuments in the cemetery shown bere were not overturned s1nce tle blast prosaure was downward 1n t is area r • • corJ n'RCIAL l@SQ 700 Feet West of Zero Point Closeup showing load beering walls or masoney and brick construction Picture by • o Penn97 r • • • Q QLLAPSBD AIR RAID SHELTER Roar Commercial usewn CO rt ost or Zero Point TM s shelter was collapsed by tre blast pressure Brick and concrete debris fell from t e -Uaeum • Picture by • G Penney • • • JAfANES G4§QLIT£§ DRQR Near Commercial Museum 700 ft W st or Zero Point Showing pa 1al collapse trom blast pre 8Ul'Go • • STRUCTURAL FAILURE Rei nforced Concrete Building #2 No 1 or 2 Views 0 2 Mile Nortl iwest ot Zero Point This t o-story concrete building is located 2 mile northwest of Zero Po·rt The concrete root slab was sup- ported by concrete beams with no interior columns The interior bea s failed causing the root slab to settle as sl'tovm The ent1r$ parapet wall was demolished one section resting on the roof having blotm in t he direction blast Rubble may be seen inside the building or the §fRUCTt@AL FAILtrfil Reinf'oreed Concrete Building #2 No 2 or 2 Vieus 0 2 11 le Northwest or Zero Point This close-up shows tr e t esvy concrete bees supPort1n tte Poot lub Tl'- se beus f'ailod in tension nlloWing tho root slab to sag as shown 1n tl-e preceding picture I In t 1s view wide crnek at the point ot failure in two of' t e beams may be sen Picture by w a Penney • BUSINESS MEN' g CLUB No l of 2 Views 0 2 Mile Northwest of Zero Point This bui ldi ng is also called the Cham er or Commerce Structural damage was ehielly to the iJoor which was distorted downward and badly cracked Eaves were also dist orted downward This building is of heavy concrete frame construction The exterior walls are of reinforced concrete construction faced with a thin tile veneer The concrete f loor at the entrance was distorted downward by the blast Interior partitions were collapsed by the blast pressure and fires of secondary origin gutted the building At the time this picture was made Korean laborers were living in the buil ding Picture by W G Benne7 • l • VIEW NEAR ZERO POINT This view ooking east from the roof of building No 7 250 feet east of zero point shows a small 3-story commercial building in t he center f reground No 16 600 f eet from zero point Interior parti- tions were blown out by tre clast and t he interior was burned out by fir es of secondary origin The building in the left foreground is a bank No 15' The fir st building in the right background is 1000 feet from zero point The roof of this building was collapsed by the blast as shown in the aerial view of zero point Picture by w G Penney Looking north along the mnin north-south streeto The nearest building in this picture 1s one fourth mile trom Zero Point and the farthest is one- tenth mile from Zero Poi nt 0 Tl'e large uprooted tree to the rigbt ot the street was blown over by tre blast ' ·- tome combustible debris still reeains were und mnged The streets Street cars were placed back in opera- tion atter the stroots were cleared 01' debris and overhead wiring was replaced Note air raid shelters 1n the foregr ound • • VIEW NEAR ZERO POINT This view is looking north at buildings No 16 and No 15 shown in t e preceding picture 600 ft from zero point o The concrete stack in the foreground was toppled in the direction of the blast Picture by w o Penney • • l t I - - I ---- • BUJIJ21 GS WW zgo PQint All Buildings are 200 Ft to 300 Ft East ot Zero Point 1'h ls view looking northwest shows tbe Samra Bank Building No 8 on tJ'le lett be parapet wall nearest the camera ta leaning out A break in the wall may be seen ot tle come just tot lett or the power po1e Tbs d molished section ot bui lding No 6 be 9oen to the rigbt ot the betnk bu1141n10 Building No 7 is atructur-ally intact exc pt tor dOWJllfnrd distortion ot tbe root Building Bo Smay be eeen at tt e r1gtt Picture by • G Penne1 • BUILp nms JEAR ZERO POIN1' This view looking west s ows buildings Noo 8 and N 7 approximately as seen 1n the preceding picture and also building No 1 Business Men 's Club or C amber of ComJnerce Building which is 2 miles north ot ze o point The concrete stack in the foreground was broken of by t e blast the st art falling in the direction of the blast as shown 1n a pre- ce ing picture Picture by w G Penney • • •• §Affl A BAiflC mn r nxm cno Bl 200 teet aouthea tor Zero Point This now shows a oeotion ot t parapet wall ot the buildine forced out by tt e roroo or tte blast Th direction ot t e blast was downwerd on tbe root pressions were tor ed in t e root one or wtich 1 be een d rectly behind the soldier A portion ot the root tailed entirely as sh •n 1n the ollo ing picture indow space in thi bu'lding as sutticient tor an equalizing pre aure to bui d up inside the building before the roor r 1led entirely • • SANWA BANK BUILDING NO Bl 200 Feet Southwest of Zero Point This is a view of a section oft he roof on the side of the building away from the blast center that failed under the impact of the blast before an equalizing pressure built up inside the building The roof consisted of concrete roo slabs supported on steel purlins and trusses • VIEW ACROSS ZERO POINT From 0 1 Mile East This view is looking west across zero pointn from 0 1 mile east point 0 or zero • Building No 7 may be seen in the left foreground and building No 3 Com- mercial tfuseum 700 ft west of zero point may be seen in the center background Picture by W G Penney • • DEVASTATION NORTH OF ZERO POINT This view shows devastation immediately north of Zero Point o The streets in this area have been cleared or debris and new power poles set 1n order to restore streetca service - • • PllEr STRIQ VIE J' OF Oo2 Kile Northwest ff'l'tl BflIIiOE ot Zero Point Tllis v1ei- looking northwGst stows typical a-story frar e buildings destroyed by tt e blant Picture turnisbed by w G P ran- • • • T •BH I DGE 0 2 f ILF tWRTEVlEST OF '' ZSRO POINT 11 This plnte girder bridge naa not demol ished by the bl as t h1ch struck t he bridge at an angle of 30 dee rees l eft or ver- ticel n l ong tho center ond l eft side of the brids o the f l oor s l ab i e unda na e ed h O ' ie ver to t ho right of the c an ter the f l oor slab 1s d1atortod down ard in sevoro l pla ces Ona depress ion oan be seen in tho righ t for eground of this pic ture This i s epporontl y due to the s_l1gh tly longer tir ie interval roquired for a counteracting pre s sur e to d ev0lop beneath the bridge a long the side a ay froo t he blae t • • T-BRIDOE 0 2 W les Northwest ot Zero Point This viow 1s lookin northeast from the T-bridge across tle military area Ttie steel post in t e foreground shows flash burns on the side facint the blast The two s all buildin sin the background were built after the explosion using salvaged materials ·• • • • 1EW 1'E tB ZERO A1m ' J From 0 1 l ile Northeast or ··zero In tl 1s view looking outl building Ho S is on tt rig t Note daylight through the building 1nd1• c ting t t interior partitions a e down The Cl'lugoko Electric Company building 0 4 I I mil south ot zero point ay be aeen in the left background o Picture by • o Penner • - • • EXTERIOR VIEW OF BUILDING NOS 12 and 1 0 2 Mile Southeast of Zero Point This view is looking south along the side of the buildings away from tre blast Structural damage was confined to downward distortion of the roofs A low parapet wall along the side of the building in the foreground was collapsed by the blast The steel tower in the foreground collapsed in the direction of the blast o Building interior suffered severe nonstructural damage and were partiall y burned out by fires of secondary origin Picture by W G Penney - •• • I lll - _- I ll Ill 11111 y - • • RUSSO JAPANESE WAR MEMORIAL 800 ft o North of Zero Point This vi ew is looking south-soutm1est from tte monument toward the epicenter of the blast The building seen in the background is located beyond zero point Rxposed stone surfaces were roughened by the blast • • • • MILITARY AREA 0 2 Mi le to o 8 Mi le North of Zero Point The following three pictures present a panoramic view or the 358 acre military area in the heart of Hiroshimao Since military installations were mostly of wood construction little debris is left to indicate t heir location The first picture No H-66 is a view looking north from the Russo-Japanese War Memorial located 800 feet north ot Zero Point The demolished Hiroshima Castle is in t he center background The second view No location H-65 is looking northeast from tbe same A demol ished station wagon may be seen in the foreground The third view No o H-6 is looking east from the same location The foundations are all that remain of Japanese barracks that were located in t is area o The nearest buildings in the right background are 4 mile rrom uzero Poi nt o • • • • • • GOKOKU SHRINE 1 4 Mil e NNW of Zero Point This Gokoku Shrine s located in the southwest corner of t he Military Area Trees were not uprooted since the direction of the blast was downward The tops of t he larger trees however were broken out by the downward pressure Many of the small monuments were over- turned by the blast • QOKOiro 1 4 fr ile mm SBRINB ot Zero Pointn In t is close-up a soldier is pointing toward zero point The stone surfaces on the right were roughened by the blast while the darker surfaces on the left retained a polished eurtace • • GOKOKU SHRINE 1 4 Mile NNW of Zero Point0 Tbis close-up or the base of the monument shown in the preceding picture shows the roughened surface of the stone at a corner exposed to t he blast • ' BUSINESS MEN' S CLUB Noo 2 of 2 Views 0 2 Mile Northwest of Zero Point Front race of the building Picture by W G Penne7 • e PRE- STRIKE STREET SCENE 0 3 Vile East ot Zero Point This pre- str1ke view shows a typical narrow street in East liiraabima Picture turniahed by w o Penney _ • • • IR Ut ZERO POIU 0 1 M1 le trom Zero Point This v1 w looking west sbOws trees and steel tower still standing to the 19ft ot the streot necr zero pojnt The pol without crossarme along the str3et were erected tollo1fing tte blast The j ltoel pole in tbe torovou nd 11 leaning 1n he direction or the bl st Picture by • o Penney ·• • Looking west from a point¼ mile south of Zero Point Some combustible debris may be seen in the foreground Portions or the wa·11s of two building of brick add masonry construction remain standing These walls are parall el with the direction of the blast The top of the steel tower on the left was deflected in the direction of the blast • ·• C 2 l out tot nz ro Po1n t The reintore d concrete al mo t sur door Thi vault moll 11 tao ng th· bl st d by t� bla t pr • ntirely �nclosed xc pt for 11 or r inforc d Building with ex·erior concrete ere not subjected top ak tydro tatic pr s ur sine windo 1 opening ting pre ure to build up 1n id before the peak pressur d llowed lop d co the bUil 1 n• • • • • BUILDINGS NEAR ZERO POI ft' Froru Building No 7 300 ft East of Zero Looking southeast buildings 17 18 and 19 in the right foreground are 0 2 mile from zer point lf This view is approximately in the direction of the blast Note daylight through windows or building No 18 indicating that all 1nterr1or partitions are down The Fukoromach1 School building 9 0 3 mile southeast of zero point is in the center of t his picture Pic·ture by W G Penney • • BUILDINGS NEAR ZERO POINT From Building No e 7 300 ft Ea st or Zero Looking southeast tre ci ugoko Electric Company Building 0 4 mile sout of zero point 1s the fourth building trom the loft T e City P all Bujlding 0 7 mile south or zero point 1s tte fifth building along the street trom lett to right Picture by w G Penney • • I FUKOROMACHI SCHOOL No 1 of 5 Views 0 3 Mile Southeast of Zero Point Tl11s view looking northeast shows Fu koromachi School in the right background Building No 19 l 4 mile from zero point 1s in tr e left foreground · One large tree in the cemetery in the foreground was blown down in the direction of the blast Picture by W G Penney • • • FUKORO MACHI SCHOOL No 2 of Veiws 0 3 Mile Southeast of Zero Point This three- Story building was gutted by fire of secondary origin following the blast This view of the side facing the blast shows windows blown 1n Windows in the lower right hand corner have been boarded· up since the blast • • • lJlKOBOifAQJ I §CROQL No 3 ot S ViGwa 0 3 Mile aoutl' oa s t or Zero Poi nt This •iew ot tre side away trorr the blnat cente shows indns blown out by the rorce ot the blaftt d 1v1ng ttll'ough the bull• ding • • I • M la PUKOROYACEI SCROOL No 4 ot S Views 0 3 Mile Soutbeast of Zero Point This view or the entrance shows a failure in the concrete tloor slab over a section ot tr e basoment Due to the basement being entirely en- closed the full pressure ot tbe blast was exerted on this tloor • • ' I I • FUKOROMACR SCHOOL No of Views Oo3 Mile Southeast ot Zero Point This view along the corridor s ows the wood f l ooring entirely burned away Doors were blown down by the blast and only the charred frames remain Plaster has fallen from the ceiling as a result of the fire • • • ffl UILDlNGS ON CASTLE GROUNDS Hiroshima Castle O o llile North ot Zero Point This pre- strike view s ows Hiroshima Castle a trame building that was demollsbed by tte blast Picture - ' by w G Penne7 • • • 1u1y ir1rz c t2ti 1n £A§TL1 uJiQJ ll PA O f llile Ko th ot ZP ro Point this pre-strike view s Dws the building used aa Fifth P1vis1on Headquerters Jar snese Ar'IV f The building was dGl IOllS led by the· blast An o ir raid shelter ne tt1s building was partially' de -0list ecl as sbnm in the toll owing picture Picture tw -n1she4 by•• o Penney j · · ' - L · ii tt il iik4¥ i1 t • ✓ ··' •• · · •· - · ' - •• • I r BUILDINGS ON THE CASTLE GROUNDS Air ·Raid Shelter o Mile North of Zero Point This air raid shelter was partially demolished by the blast Street car rails were used to support the roof The roof framing was poorly designed since the supporting transverse rails were widely spaced while the non supporting longitudinal rails were closely placed Tris framework was covered ·with 10 inches of concrete followed by two courses of brickwork Picture by Wo G Penney • • BUILDINGS ON THE CASTLE GROUNDS Wood Frame Building No l of 2 Views o Mile North of Zero Point This one-story wood frame building was demolished by the blast but was not burned The blast was from left to right heavy timbers shown here were part of the roof framework · The • • • I I I I BUILDINGS ON THE CASTLE GROUNDS Wood Frame Building No 2 of 2 Views o Mile North of Zero Point This view looking nest shows debris at the north end of the building left to r i ght The blast was from A window frame blown clear of tbe other debris may b seen in the right foreground This is one of the few wood frame buil dings found within a hali'- m1l e radius that were not burned J • • COM mRCIAL MUSEUM 700 rt West of Zero Point The exterior walls of the main building are still standing but the roof and intermediate floors and walls collapsed The circular tower enclosing the stairway is still standing Exterior walls on the left are deflected in the direction of the blast •