The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki | Page 4

representing him in operations in the Pacific,
directing him to organize a special Manhattan Project Atomic Bomb
Investigating Group.
This Group was to secure scientific, technical and medical intelligence
in the atomic bomb field from within Japan as soon as possible after the
cessation of hostilities. The mission was to consist of three groups:

1. Group for Hiroshima. 2. Group for Nagasaki. 3. Group to secure
information concerning general Japanese activities in the field of
atomic bombs.
The first two groups were organized to accompany the first American
troops into Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The primary purposes of the mission were as follows, in order of
importance:
1. To make certain that no unusual hazards were present in the bombed
cities.
2. To secure all possible information concerning the effects of the
bombs, both usual and unusual, and particularly with regard to
radioactive effects, if any, on the targets or elsewhere.
General Groves further stated that all available specialist personnel and
instruments would be sent from the United States, and that the Supreme
Allied Commander in the Pacific would be informed about the
organization of the mission.
On the same day, 11 August, the special personnel who formed the part
of the investigating group to be sent from the United States were
selected and ordered to California with instructions to proceed overseas
at once to accomplish the purposes set forth in the message to General
Farrell. The main party departed from Hamilton Field, California on the
morning of 13 August and arrived in the Marianas on 15 August.
On 12 August the Chief of Staff sent the Theater Commander the
following message:
"FOR MACARTHUR, SIGNED MARSHALL:
"GROVES HAS ORDERED FARRELL AT TINIAN TO ORGANIZE
A SCIENTIFIC GROUP OF THREE SECTIONS FOR POTENTIAL
USE IN JAPAN IF SUCH USE SHOULD BE DESIRED. THE FIRST
GROUP IS FOR HIROSHIMA, THE SECOND FOR NAGASAKI,
AND THE THIRD FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING
INFORMATION CONCERNING GENERAL JAPANESE
ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF ATOMIC WEAPONS. THE
GROUPS FOR HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI SHOULD ENTER
THOSE CITIES WITH THE FIRST AMERICAN TROOPS IN
ORDER THAT THESE TROOPS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECTED TO
ANY POSSIBLE TOXIC EFFECTS ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO
REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ANY SUCH EFFECTS ACTUALLY

EXIST. FARRELL AND HIS ORGANIZATION HAVE ALL
AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT."
General Farrell arrived in Yokohama on 30 August, with the
Commanding General of the 8th Army; Colonel Warren, who was
Chief of the Radiological Division of the District, arrived on 7
September. The main body of the investigating group followed later.
Preliminary inspections of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were made on 8-9
and 13-14 September, respectively. Members of the press had been
enabled to precede General Farrell to Hiroshima.
The special groups spent 16 days in Nagasaki and 4 days in Hiroshima,
during which time they collected as much information as was possible
under their directives which called for a prompt report. After General
Farrell returned to the U.S. to make his preliminary report, the groups
were headed by Brigadier General J. B. Newman, Jr. More extensive
surveys have been made since that time by other agencies who had
more time and personnel available for the purpose, and much of their
additional data has thrown further light on the effects of the bombings.
This data has been duly considered in the making of this report.

PROPAGANDA
On the day after the Hiroshima strike, General Farrell received
instructions from the War Department to engage in a propaganda
campaign against the Japanese Empire in connection with the new
weapon and its use against Hiroshima. The campaign was to include
leaflets and any other propaganda considered appropriate. With the
fullest cooperation from CINCPAC of the Navy and the United States
Strategic Air Forces, he initiated promptly a campaign which included
the preparation and distribution of leaflets, broadcasting via short wave
every 15 minutes over radio Saipan and the printing at Saipan and
distribution over the Empire of a Japanese language newspaper which
included the description and photographs of the Hiroshima strike.
The campaign proposed:
1. Dropping 16,000,000 leaflets in a period of 9 days on 47 Japanese
cities with population of over 100,000. These cities represented more
than 40% of the total population.
2. Broadcast of propaganda at regular intervals over radio Saipan.
3. Distribution of 500,000 Japanese language newspapers containing

stories and pictures of the atomic bomb attacks.
The campaign continued until the Japanese began their surrender
negotiations. At that time some 6,000,000 leaflets and a large number
of newspapers had been dropped. The radio broadcasts in Japanese had
been carried out at regular 15 minute intervals.

SUMMARY OF DAMAGES AND INJURIES
Both the Hiroshima and the Nagasaki atomic bombs exhibited similar
effects.
The damages to man-made structures and other inanimate objects was
the result in both cities of the following effects