>>Why was Hiroshima chosen as the first place to drop an atomic bomb? The committee whose >responsibility it was to make such a decision had first decided upon Kyoto, Japan as the >first target. However, Secretary of War Henry Stimson, intervened and suggested that >another location be chosen. Stimson had visited Kyoto on two occasions and loved the city.
>
>One important factor in the decision to bomb Hiroshima was that the city had remained
>relatively untouched by allied bombing to that point, and this would provide a more
>accurate accounting of the damage effects of the bomb.


Kevin;

That is a good point! Also, had conventional bombs been used then the fear factor would have been lessoned. The thought that one bomb could cause so much destruction was a PR move.

Tom