Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima Technical Testimony: Morris Jeppson Inscribed Photograph Detailing In-Flight Arming of “Little Boy,” 1945 Mission Context

Morris Jeppson

Manuscripts & Autographs

Jeppson, Morris. Inscribed photograph of Hiroshima following the atomic bombing, provides a first-person technical account of the in-flight arming procedure for the weapon deployed on August 6, 1945. As weapons officer aboard the Enola Gay, Morris Jeppson was responsible for ensuring the bomb’s operational readiness, and his inscription records the precise moment he armed the device prior to release. The document contributes direct evidence to the operational history of nuclear warfare by describing the mechanical steps required to enable detonation, linking the destruction of Hiroshima to the technical actions performed within the aircraft during the mission.

Jeppson, Morris. Hiroshima devastation photograph. United States, post-1945. Black-and-white photograph measuring approximately 11 x 8.5 inches, inscribed in ink by Morris Jeppson. The inscription reads: “Before the Enola Gay B29 moved to bombing altitude I climbed into the bomb bay and replaced an electrical component (plug) in the bomb with a red coded plug that armed the bomb, so that it would detonate when it reached an elevation above ground of about 1800 feet – while traveling at the speed of sound – about 1000 feet per second. Morris Jeppson – Weapon Test Officer – Enola Gay Mission – Hiroshima 6 Aug. 1945.” The text provides a detailed explanation of the arming mechanism, including altitude-based detonation and the physical act of replacing the safety component with an active trigger system.

This inscription situates the photograph within the technical and procedural framework of the atomic bombing, documenting how nuclear weapons required manual intervention and verification during flight. Jeppson’s account reflects the integration of engineering design and human execution central to the deployment of atomic weapons at the close of World War II. The combination of a destruction image with a participant’s technical explanation offers a layered primary source for the study of nuclear technology, military operations, and the human roles embedded within systems of unprecedented destructive capacity.

Light handling wear; photograph remains clean with strong, legible inscription. Overall very good.

Item #12762

Price: $500.00