Who made the final decision to drop the atomic bomb?

Answer 1

There was no specific final decision to drop either bomb on Japan. Truman's authorization to the US Army Airforce was simply to drop the bombs as soon as possible after receipt of the weapons from Los Alamos. This was a blanket order covering all 23 bombs scheduled for production in 1945 as well as any made later until Japan surrendered. Los Alamos delivered the third atomic bomb to the Army Airforce in San Francisco on August 18, 1945 but as Japan had already surrendered 4 days earlier, it was returned to Los Alamos. The other 20 bombs were scheduled for production as follows: September - 3, October - 3, November - 7, December - 7.

Answer 2

The field commanders on Tinian. Their orders were written "use the atomic bombs as they became available" and no additional authorization (not even from the president) was needed.

Little Boy was available on the morning of August 6, 1945 so it was loaded on a B-29 bomber and dropped on its primary target Hiroshima.

Fatman was available on the morning of August 9, 1945 so it was loaded on a B-29 and dropped on its secondary target Nagasaki (it could not be dropped on its primary target Kokura due to heavy smoke).

A third atomic bomb would have become available in late August and dropped on another Japanese city (probably Kokura) had the Japanese not surrendered, which caused Truman to issue his ONLY order related to the use of atomic bombs at any time during the war: which was to "stop using the atomic bombs on Japan".

Twenty more atomic bombs were planned for production and use on Japan before the end of 1945 (with even more in 1946 and later if needed) and not a single one would have required any "final decision" to use them by anyone higher in authority than the field commanders on Tinian. Their orders to "use the atomic bombs as they became available" had been written up back in May 1945 and this had been the intention of Franklin D. Roosevelt before his death on April 12, 1945 and when Truman was briefed he saw no reason to change anything that Franklin D. Roosevelt had already set in motion.

Answer 3

President Truman did.

He considered the use of this new weapon as able to end the War against Japan more quickly.

Answer 4

President Truman made the decision and solely he did. He took all responsibilities for that.

Answer 5

Harry S. Truman

Answer 6

Harry S. Truman.

Answer 7

President Truman

Answer 8

Truman