Courtesy of National Archives, Alvarez, Luis, "Letter from Luis Alvarez to His Son," 6 August 1945
Description
This item is an unsigned, three-page typewritten letter to Dr. Luis Alvarez's son Walter, headed "August 6th, 10 minutes off the Jap coast at 26,000 feet." This part described the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Alvarez's work on the atomic bomb led to the technique for detonation of the bomb. He also helped develop the ground-controlled landing approach system and the method for aerial bombing.
Full Transcript of Dr. Luis Alvarez's Letter to his Son
Transcribed Excerpts from Dr. Luis Alvarez's Letter to his Son
Source-Dependent Questions
- In the last two paragraphs, how did Dr. Luis Alvarez describe the build up and actual dropping the atomic bomb?
- What were Alavarez's regrets? What reason does he give for those regrets? How did this show the motivation for dropping the atomic bomb to end the war in the Pacific?
Citation Questions
Alvarez, Luis, "Letter from Luis Alvarez to His Son," 6 August 1945. Courtesy of National Archives