The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.
"Preserving, Exhibiting, Interpreting and Teaching the History of the Manhattan Project"
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The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc. "Preserving, Exhibiting, Interpreting and Teaching the History of the Manhattan Project" |
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| In conjunction with our commitment to the Veteran History Project of the Library of Congress, we proudly present the Veterans of the Manhattan Project. Below are the personal histories of 12 of these veterans. Please "click" on a name below to go directly to that veteran's section or simply page down to view them all. Please "click" here to go to the Veteran Archives Directory. |
Manhattan Project Veteran Archives
Archive Section
2 of 50
| Jean Cooper | William S. Biggers | Gerald Cole |
| Carl Crumb | Thomas S. Little | Ronald D. Fredlund |
| Paris A. Howard | William T. Hulse, Jr. | Paul G. Hutnick |
| Albert S. Kerns | Harold E. Knisley | Edward L. Bankoski |
2-1
| Name:
Jean S. Cooper, Sgt. |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 393rd BS Job/Position: #4 Engine Mechanic - Enola Gay Dates of Service (if Known): 1943 to 1945 Information Submitted By: Jean S. Cooper Archival Record #: CG-MO-COOJ-1201 |
 Jean S. Cooper enlisted in the Army in 1943 after 2 1/2 years at Central
Michigan. After basic training at Miami Beach he was assigned to
airplane mechanic school at Amarillo, TX, then to Chanute Field in
Illinois for electrical training and finally to Renton, WA where he was
introduced to the B-29 Superfortess. His first assignment was as
line mechanic with the 393rd Bombardment Squadron at Fairmont, NB.
This squadron formed the core of the 509th Composite Group when it
was activated. Jean moved with the squadron to Wendover, UT and
finally to Tinian Island where he worked as the engine mechanic on the #4
engine of the Enola Gay. Jean has provided us with a very
interesting story. He presently makes his home in Venezuela where he
has been for close to 50 years. |
2-2
| Name:
William S. Biggers |
Table | Location: Houdville Hershey; Decatur, IL Assigned Unit: Civilian - Technical Job/Position: Chemical Engineer Dates of Service (if Known): 04/44 to 12/46 Information Submitted By: Jeanette Daniels - Daughter Archival Record #: CP-CS-BIGW-0600 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
No Picture Available William Biggers was not initially told what the purpose of the experiments were that he performed and set up. He and several other of the scientists felt that the war was going very badly and that they would not be allowed as healthy fighting-age men to continue being civilian scientists. He enrolled himself and the others into the Navy and then reported to his superior what he had done. The superior was so upset that he told my father the truth about what they were doing to (splitting the atom). He then got the names of all the men that my father had enlisted into the Navy and had them excused from military service and back to the plant (Houdville Hershey Corporation) |
2-3
| Name:
Gerald Cole |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 1st Ordnance Sqdn Job/Position: Bomb Truck Driver Dates of Service (if Known): ???? Information Submitted By: Steve Cole, Son Archival Record #: CG-MO-COLG-0901 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
No Picture Available I was a little wrong on the pass, it wasn't to unload the USS Indianapolis (which he did help do), he says he had to have this pass to be where the bomb was stored on Tinian. He was the one in some newsreel footage you see driving the truck with the bomb on the trailer out to be loaded onto the Enola Gay. He also said he has no idea why or how he was selected for the job.
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2-4
| Name:
Carl Crumb |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Military - SED Job/Position: T/Sgt Dates of Service (if Known): ???? Information Submitted By: Anonymous Archival Record #: LA-SD-CRUC-0600 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
 T/Sgt
Carl Crumb of the SED's shown with his bride, Jean (Smoot) Crumb, an RN at
the Los Alamos Hospital. |
2-5
| Name:
Thomas S. Little |
Table | Location: Oak Ridge, TN - Y12 Plant Assigned Unit: Civilian - Non Technical Job/Position: Millwright - Tennessee Eastman Dates of Service (if Known): 01/44 to 08/46 Information Submitted By: Thomas N. Little, Son Archival Record #: OR-CO-LITT-0801 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Thomas Little was born August 12, 1914 and joined the Y-12 plant as a
millwright in January 1944.
He repaired and maintained Pyrex Glass Pipes (1 inch and 3 inch) and
worked on Porcelain Pipes. He was trained in the use of amalgam gold
to repair pipes, at Rochester New York (Eastman Kodak). He used
dental tools and gold amalgam to effect repairs. He also worked in
the Hydro Fluoric acid recharge area and in Building #2 and Building #3
and around the very large magnets in the U235 concentration area.
His work required the use of non magnetic tools because of the extremely
strong magnets used to separate the Uranium 235 isotope. |
2-6
| Name:
Ronald D. Fredlund |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 390th ASG Job/Position: Finance Sergeant Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: American Legion Archival Record #: CG-MO-FRER-0502 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Ron Fredlund was a finance sergeant with the 509th Composite
Group on Tinian Island during World War II. Because of the extreme secrecy
associated with the 509th, they were completely self contained. Ron
Fredlund worked in the office that was responsible for both payroll and ordering
supplies. It is believed that Ron Fredlund is from Los Altos, CA. If
someone knows of Mr. Fredlund, please contact us at
cotmp1@angelfire.com This information was provided by the American Legion. |
2-7
| Name:
Paris A. Howard |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Military - SED Job/Position: Post Security Dates of Service (if Known): 05/45 to 04/46 Information Submitted By: Velma Blizzard, Daughter Archival Record #: LA-SD-HOWP-0900 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Document 2 | Story 1 | |
Paris Howard was one of the later recruits assigned to the Special Engineer Detachment as the race for the bomb intensified in 1945. His first assignment was as a maintenance technician at the Trinity site outside Alamagordo, NM. While there, he worked on repairing instrument gauges and other technical equipment. On July 16th, at 5:30 in the morning, Paris and two other men were instructed to lay on their stomachs, with their feet pointing toward "ground zero". They were at 10,000 yards from the tower. They were further instructed to report the effects (heat, shock wave, etc.) when the bomb went off. Paris is one of the few we have met who actually witnessed the first atomic explosion. |
2-8
| Name:
William T. Hulse, Jr. |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 393rd BS Job/Position: Flight Engr. - "Next Objective" Dates of Service (if Known): 1944 - 1945 Information Submitted By: American Legion Archival Record #: CG-MO-HULW-0701 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
William T. Hulse, Jr. was with the 393rd Bombardment Squadron of the 509th Composite Group. Mr. Hulse was the Flight Engineer on the B-29, "Next Objective". Bill, as he was known to his friends, studied aeronautical engineering at Parks Air College in St. Louis, MO prior to joining the 509th. William Hulse passed away January 10, 1998. Anyone who remembers Bill Hulse, please contact us at cotmp1@angelfire.com |
2-9
| Name:
Paul G. Hutnick |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 603rd AES Job/Position: Unknown Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: American Legion Archival Record #: CG-MO-HUTP-1001 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Paul G. Hutnick served with the 603rd Air Engineers Squadron of the 509th Composite Group. He was stationed at Wendover Field, UT and then later, at Tinian Island. Mr. Hutnick was a sergeant. Paul Hutnick passed away on Sunday, September 17, 2000. If anyone remembers Paul G. Hutnick, please contact us at cotmp1@angelfire.com |
2-10
| Name:
Albert S. Kerns |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Military - SED Job/Position: Mechanical Engineer Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: Matthew Kerns, Son Archival Record #: LA-SD-KERA-1001 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Albert S. Kerns was a mechanical engineer assigned to the SED (Special Engineer Detachment) at Los Alamos, NM as part of the Manhattan Project during World War II. Mr. Kerns recently passed away and his grandson, Matthew V. Kerns, has submitted this information in the hopes that someone may know of his grandfather and shed some additional light on his specific role at Los Alamos. If you know of Albert S. Kerns, please contact our organization at cotmp1@angelfire.com or contact his grandson, Matt, at matt22199@hotmail.com.
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2-11
| Name:
Harold E. Knisley |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 393rd BS Job/Position: Aircraft Mechanic Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: Mendy Bryant, G-Dau Archival Record #: CG-MO-KNIH-1001 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Not much is known about Harold Knisley's specific role with the 509th Composite Group other than his discharge papers indicate that he was an aircraft mechanic. Sadly, Mr. Knisley passed away on July 8, 1999 at the age of 82. He never talked much about his exploits in World War II and thus little information is available. His granddaughter, Mendy Bryant, wishes to learn more about her grandfather's role with the Manhattan Project. If you know anything about Harold Knisley of the 509th Composite Group, please e-mail Mendy at mbryant@dragonbbs.com or contact us at gadget1945@msn.com |
2-12
| Name:
Edward L. Bankoski |
Table | Location: Wendover, UT / Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 509th CG - 603rd AES Job/Position: Aircraft Maintenance Chief Dates of Service (if Known): 05/45 - 11/45 Information Submitted By: Margaret A. Adamarczyk, Daughter Archival Record #: CG-MO-BANE-1101 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
The information submitted on Edward L. Bankowski is very sketchy. From his separation qualification record, he was an Aircraft Maintenance Chief - MOS 750. We have subsequently determined that he was with the 603rd Air Engineering Squadron. If you have any information about Mr. Bankowski, please contact us via "feedback" above. This information was provided by his daughter. |
