Near Failure at Nagasaki Essay

committal was planned for August 11th but was changed to the 9th due to bad bear Primary target was Kokura and Nagasaki was secondaryBomb to be downf aloneped was called Fat Man, a plutonium bomb to a greater extent complex than the one dropped on Hiroshima 509th air force officer, Col. capital of Minnesota W. Tibbets Jr. choose Maj. Charles W. Sweeney, commander of the 393rd Bomb Squadron to command the mission sixsome B-29s was sent to the missionSweeney and Bock switched airplanes, with Sweeney flying Bockscar and Bock flying The gigantic Artiste Bockscar had problems with fuel thither was 7,250 gallons of fuel aboard and exclusively 600 gallons in diffidence tank The rendezvous point for the mission was YakushimaThe airplanes were supposed to meet at 30,000ft instead of 8,000 due to bad weather conditions. The B29, observation airplane, named Big Stink, piloted by opkinsHHopHopkins, was circling at 39,000ft instead 30,000 Sweeney was at the rendezvous point at Kokura for 4 5 min instead 15 min and made multiple barrage runs Hopkins broke radio silence, to avoid detection, and radioed back to base after non beingness capable to rendezvous with SweeneyThe target was changed to Nagasaki due to complications at Kokura Beahan took the prototypical clear sighting and confirmed the drop was possible The bomb was detonated at 1,890ft at 1102am over Urakami Valley, which was not the original target in Nagasaki About 40,000 people were killed, compared to 80, 000 at Hiroshima Issues1. Leadership And Discipline2. measure worry3. Respect And CooperationIssue 1Leadership And DisciplineIn out enjoin to run a victorful mission the group must retain a smashed leader. Discipline and well-defined leadership can benefit or break a project, mission or business. In much(prenominal) endeavors there is the requirement that all members follow the plan as it was discussed and to not make some(prenominal) changes on their own which would negatively affect the su ccess of the mission. There were various instances in this mission where lack of authority and loss from the original plan caused delays in the execution of the plan. Further much when other squad members assumed similar authority as the team commander there were problems executing basic parts of the plan as well as failure to adjust properly.Proposed SolutionsPositivesNegativesTibbets should take settled Sweeneys authority little dissent/questioning among team membersMay arrest downn much judgment of conviction to get mission together as there may assimilate been objectionsChoose someone more(prenominal) qualified with combat and leadership experience to better answer the plan Someone, such as Ashworth, with precedent experience would redeem more authority, be able to build strong team and made less mistakes Tibbets would shake up needed to take at least one other member on theHiroshima runAs team leader, enforce authorityThere would form been less discord and confu sion as to what the commander penuryed to do Some team members may not have liked the assertion of authority elect solutionTibbets should have assigned a more qualified commander to the team. The most eligible candidate would have been Ashworth. By having Ashworth, who had combat experience, take control over the mission there would have been less discord and better cooperation among the members of the team. Hopkins would have had more respect for Ashworth based primarily on seniority. The mission would have had fewer problems in execution if there were only one point of reference and decision-making.Backup planIn field Ashworth would not have worked out, Tibbets could have excessively implemented severe repercussions for any individuals failing to follow the plan and obey orders.Issue 2Time ManagementExecuting a plan, especially a time circumstantial one, is essential for accomplishing that plan. No matter the mettle of the members, their accolades or accomplishments, failure t o yield by the hold upon plan and time limits can ultimately fate a well-planned mission to failure.Proposed SolutionsPositives Negatives Sweeney should have made the decision to inform the conclave when he discovered the fuel problem The crew may have thought more highly of Sweeneys ability to lead. This would have also given them more time aloft There may have been more time spent fueling this delaying the mission even more.Sweeney should have leftover the original rendezvous point after 15 minutes The mission would have had more time to better plan for the drop on Nagasaki If everyone else decided to delay, Sweeney leaving primal may not have made a difference Make sure that ALL team members understood and agreed to follow a specific plan, with minimal direction for adjustments Hopkins and Ashworth would not have any room to second-guess Sweeney and would have been held answerable for deviations in the plan. The proper method of communicationwould have to be chosen here in order to get the plan to execute swimminglyChosen solutionThe most important factor that could have amend the outcome of the mission was having Sweeney leave the rendezvous point on time. If Sweeney had left he would have had more time and fuel to accomplish the Nagasaki mission, peradventure resulting in a drop on the exact target that was originally planned for Nagasaki.Backup planIn case Sweeney was not able to leave on time, indeed it should have been made clear that all directions in the mission should be followed as planned if the commander is unable to perform. In this case the mission should be abandoned if the strict time limits were not met. Additionally, they should not have armed the bomb until we were five minutes out from the drop location thus giving the opportunity to terminate and return with an unarmed bomb.Issue 3Respect And CooperationIdeally a commander or leader is assigned because of their proven ability to lead. They should not simply be appointed b ut should earn their qualifications. Tibbets chose Sweeney ahead of other, more worthy, candidates such as Ashworth and Hopkins. However we are sometimes placed in positions that we are not expecting yet we must be prepared to at least recognize the new opportunity.Proposed SolutionsPositivesNegativesSweeney should have discussed the mission with the team in more detail and asked for the cooperation. Sweeney would have had less friction with his team members and would have had better clarity for making decisions Ashworth and Hopkins may not have agreed to work under Sweeney in either caseA high ranked team leader should have been chosenThere would be less concern or hierarchy and an overall less gnarly mission. Team members may have felt that they were not trusted to execute the mission Sweeneys team should have consisted of all members below his rank There would have been less questioning of Sweeneys decisions The members may not have been as experienced as the crew which actuall y went on the missionChosen SolutionSweeney should have discussed the mission in more detail with the other members. He had various opportunities from the fueling concern to the early breakfast as well as his encounter with Hopkins before the flight. He should have exerted his command and asked for the overall teams cooperation in making the mission succeeds. If there was any one there who would not want to cooperate, or couldnt work as Sweeneys junior then they should have been replaced.Backup PlanIf Sweeney would not have been able to tantalise his team members around him then a different commander should have been chosen. Sweeney showed many signs of not being confident in his command, or being too inclusive of other opinions. Someone who was more experienced and more capable of orchestrating the plan would have had less problems and a smoother mission.