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An Unbelievable Set of Declassified Photos Reveal the Preparations Leading Up to the U.S. Nuclear Attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in August 1945.

On August 6th and 9th of 1945, the U.S. atomic bombs were dropped over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These rarely-seen photos give a little look into the other side of the engineering on the first atomic bombs, the mechanical and logistical work that it took to handle, store, transport, and load them; the preparations on the hours leading up to the U.S. nuclear attacks on the two cities.

Manhattan Project scientists and military personnel gather around the bomb pit, ready to watch the Little Boy bomb being loaded into the Enola Gay.

Bomb Pit.

Little Boy, covered by a protective tarp for security reasons.

Little Boy ready to be lifted into the Enola Gay.

Little Boy ready to be loaded into the Enola Gay.

The Enola Gay backs up over the bomb pit.

Little Boy is lifted via a hydraulic lift into the Enola Gay.

Little Boy is lifted via a hydraulic lift into the Enola Gay.

A view from underneath the hydraulic lift, in the bomb bay.

Little Boy has been successfully lifted into the bomb bay and is being attached to sway brackets that will keep it secure.

Little Boy in the Enola Gay bomb bay.

The assembled implosion sphere for Fat Man ready to be placed in the casing.

Putty is applied to the forward plate.

Sealant is applied via spray gun.

The sealant has been applied.

Norman Ramsey signing his name on Fat Man.

Fat Man is lowered on to a transport dolly for the trip to the airfield. Note the signatures on the tail assembly.

Signatures on Fat Man's tail assembly.

“ A Second Kiss for Hirohito!” Signed by Rear Admiral W.R. Purnell, USN, on the side of Fat Man.

Preliminary pit alignment.

Fat Man is manually pushed to the bomb pit.

Fat Man's alignment with the bomb pit is checked.

The towing cable is disconnected. Note the MPs keeping guard.

Fat Man is raised on a hydraulic lift.

Once alignment is complete, Fat Man is lowered into the pit.

Fat Man is lowered into the pit.