Question

The quote below was written in the 1940s:

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is C. The crew of the Enola Gay believed that the atomic bomb was the best way to force Japan’s surrender.

Explanation:

Enola Gay was the first bomber used to drop an atomic bomb; it was named after the pilot's mother. Joseph Stiborik was part of the crew as he operated the radar.

Letter C is the correct answer since Seargent Stiborik mentioned that "this thing was going to bring an end to the war", in spite of the huge amount of civilian casualties. It does not mean the crew did not care about them, since there was almost no talk. Based on the excerpt, it is not possible to figure out if they had participated in atomic testing before. Also, the crew only followed orders, which came from the very highest positions.

Answer 2

Answer: C. The crew of the Enola Gay believed that the atomic bomb was the best way to force Japan’s surrender.

Explanation:

Stilborik's reflection illustrates how at the time, the bombing of Hiroshima seemed as the only way to stop the conflict and avoid further casualties. The war had dragged on for three months after Germany's surrender, Imperial Japan had not yet accepted defeat and many generals feared that in order to ensure an allied victory, Japan would have to be occupied the same way they had occupied Germany, which meant millions of futher military and civilian casualties. In order to end a war that could have dragged on for two more years according to some analysts, the U.S. dropped the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japan's surrender without the need of a costly and brutal land invasion.