The History Buff,17509 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 or Palm Beach, Florida, 33480 
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An Original Hiroshima Target Map
 
Area Target Chart #23
Rare and Historic War-Dated Document
1 of only 200 Maps Printed
Specifically for the Hiroshima Mission
by The 949th Engineer Aviation
Topographic Company attached to the 21st Bomber Command on Guam,
June 16, 1945
 
SOLD
An Original, Rare and Historic, War-Dated Hiroshima Area Target Map, Chart #23, printed on June 16, 1945, by The 949th Engineer Aviation Topographic Company attached to the 21st Bomber Command on Guam; measuring approximately 16 in. by 16 ¾ in., being a lithographic print in three colors (green, blue and black) on white map stock. One or more copies of the Area Target Chart #23, were carried aboard the Enola Gay and used to place the bomb at the correct location. This "Bombing Aid" was printed specifically for the Hiroshima attack. The city of Hiroshima appears prominently at the center of 13 concentric circles at 2-mile intervals. The chart is in good condition without tears, holes or stains. It has a center fold mark top to bottom and three fold marks left to right.
 
 
As the sixtieth anniversary approaches, it is clear that few events in history have changed the world as much as the explosion of two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The bombs were the product of the secret "Manhattan Project" and it is now believed that the part these bombs played in assuring the outcome of WW II in the Pacific was not nearly as significant as the chain of events they initiated. The "Atomic Age" has seen changes that could never have been imagined when it was heralded by these two devastating blasts.
 
The Hiroshima bomb "Little Boy" was delivered by the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets and carrying a crew of 4 others. One or more copies of Hiroshima Area Target Chart #23, printed on June 16, 1945, by The 949th Engineer Aviation Topographic Company attached to the 21st Bomber Command on Guam, were carried aboard the Enola Gay and used to place the bomb at the correct location. This "Bombing Aid" was printed specifically for the Hiroshima attack and the city of Hiroshima appears prominently at the center of 13 concentric circles at 2-mile intervals. The offered map did not fly on the Enola Gay but was part of the original printing run of approximately 200 and is identical to the one(s) used for dropping the Hiroshima bomb.
 
This original Hiroshima Area Target Chart #23 has been owned by Charles J. Gentry Lt. Col. (R) U.S. Army, CE, since the end of WW II. He was a member of the Operations Section of the 949th Engineer Topographic Company on Guam and acquired the chart when the organization closed out after World War II. The charts and photos have also been in Mr. Gentry's possession since the end of World War II. Accompanied with five supporting items:
 
1. A Document of Authenticity, signed by Mr. Gentry, explaining the chart and supporting items and documenting their authenticity.
 
2. Jeep trailer photo taken June 16, 1945. The photo shows a jeep trailer loaded with packages and was taken June 16, 1945 to document the production of a record number of charts within a 24 hour period. The packages of charts on the left in the trailer are for both conventional and radar bomb sights. The circular images on the charts indicate the way in which the target would appear in a radar bomb sight at various distances and specified flight path. These radar bomb sight images were presented in various shades of gray and black on white map stock. The charts on the right are for conventional bomb sight use with the land mass area presented in the conventional blue / green / black on white map stock.
 
 
 
 
 
3. Nagoya Area Target Chart No. 13. This is another of the target charts produced by the 949th Engineer Aviation Topographic Company. Cross hatched area indicates an area of the city destroyed by a previous raid.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Urban Area Mosaic Tokyo No. 7-PA. This aerial photo mosaic, in sepia color, is a lithographic print on white map stock with various areas outlined in black. The description/identity of these areas is found in the margin of the mosaic. Outlined areas and their identity would be utilized by the Intelligence Section personnel of the 21st Bomber Command to select aiming points for bombing strikes on Tokyo.
 
 
 
 
 
5. Aerial Photo Print of Tokyo Japan taken March 1945. It is an enlarged photo print from a 9" x 9" negative of a photo reconnaissance mission flown over Tokyo, Japan three days after the March, 1945 incendiary raid. The purpose of the reconnaissance mission was to determine the extent of damage the raid had achieved. Smoke is apparent in the photograph that indicates fires are still burning and the area of the city that has been destroyed. By comparing this photo with item #4, one can see the damage to the area and the elimination of most of the facilities identified on the mosaic.
 
This is an outstanding original collection representing one of the seminal events in the history of World War II. The chart is in good condition without tears, holes or stains. It has a center fold mark top to bottom and three fold marks left to right. The above images were taken with a digital camera and does not fully represent the clarity of the pieces as described. $OLD

 

The History Buff
17509 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347

or
Palm Beach, Florida 33480

eMail: TheHistBuff@aol.com
Phone: 952-937-0325