Video: 'The World At War Episode 24 HD - The Bomb (February – September 1945)' (Aug. 6, 1945, at 34:42)

(Monday, August 6, 1945, 2:45 a.m. Chamorro Standard Time; during World War II) — An American B-29, with Lt. Col. Paul W. Tibbets in command and named the Enola Gay after his mother, left Tinian Island in the Marianas with “Little Boy,” the nickname for one of two atom bombs available for use against Japan, on board, bound for Hiroshima. Continue reading Enola Gay departs Tinian Island to drop first atomic bomb 80 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1945) →

Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (Aug. 4, 1945, at 55:34)

(Saturday, August 4, 1945, 3:00 p.m. Chamorro Standard Time; during World War II) — On Tinian Island, the crews chosen to fly the Enola Gay mission were briefed today, but no one mentioned the words “atomic bomb.”

Video: 'WWII: Potsdam Conference Ends - 1945 | Today In History | 2 Aug 18'

(Thursday, August 2, 1945, 12:30 a.m. Central European Midsummer Time; during Potsdam Conference of World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Britain’s new Prime Minister Clement Attlee concluded the Potsdam Conference early today, reaching unanimous agreement on a final tripartite communiqué. Continue reading Truman, Stalin, and Attlee conclude Potsdam conference with landmark tripartite communiqué 80 years ago this hour (Aug 2 1945) →

(Tuesday, July 31, 1945; during Potsdam Conference of World War II) — The atomic bomb, codenamed “Little Boy,” was successfully assembled today on Tinian Island and is now ready for deployment against Japan. Continue reading Assembly of ‘Little Boy’ atomic bomb completed 80 years ago today (July 31 1945) →

Video: 'The Story of the Deadliest Shark Attack in US History'

(Monday, July 30, 1945, approximately 12:14 a.m. local time; during World War II) — The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk early this morning by a Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea with only 317 out of nearly 1,200 men aboard surviving. Continue reading USS Indianapolis torpedoed by Japanese 80 years ago this hour (July 30 1945) →

Video: 'Shaping The Future - U.N. Charter Becomes Reality Aka San Francisco Conference (1945)'

(Saturday, July 28, 1945, 5:02 p.m. EWT; during World War II) — The United States Senate today ratified 89-2 the Charter of the United Nations, successor to the League of Nations Covenant which it rejected 26 years ago.

Video: 'Empire State Building Plane Crash - 1945'

(Saturday, July 28, 1945, 9:49 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — A twin-engine B-25 U.S. Army bomber, lost in a blinding fog, crashed into the 79th floor of New York’s Empire State Building this morning, killing 14 people including the three occupants of the plane and 11 persons in the building. Continue reading B-25 bomber slams into Empire State Building — 14 dead in fiery crash 80 years ago this hour (July 28 1945) →

Video: 'The World at War: The Bomb: February-September 1945 (24 of 26)' (July 28, 1945, at 33:43)

(Saturday, July 28, 1945, 3:00 p.m. JST; during the Potsdam Conference of World War II) — Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki announced this afternoon that Japan would ignore the Potsdam Declaration, issued two days ago by the Allies meeting at the Potsdam Conference calling on Japan to surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction” Continue reading Tokyo ignores Allies’ surrender ultimatum 80 years ago this hour (July 28 1945) →