With the recent release of the movie Oppenheimer there has been renewed interest in the many aspects that came together to make the atomic bombing of Japan a reality. This artifact spotlight will discuss some of the back story of the development of the atomic bomb, and highlight artifacts we have on display here at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Much has been written about the reasons for, and decision by, President Harry Truman to use nuclear weapons against Japan; an act that ultimately led to the end of World War II with the unconditional surrender by the Empire of Japan.
Our object collection contains hundreds of medals, and prominent among these is a large selection of Purple Hearts. They are simple medals, but behind each of them is a story of heroism and sacrifice. Here, we take a look at some of our Purple Hearts and how they were rewarded.
One of the most exciting things for the collection's staff is when we receive a donation with excellent provenance. This is especially true when a donation has historical images associated with it that shows the artifact "in action." One such example is a parachute rigging kit that belonged to Zilda De Carlo.
The San Diego Air & Space Museum recently acquired a wedding dress with a very special story behind it, that involves war, love and survival.
The San Diego Air & Space Museum has a large collection of playing cards that were given to passengers when they were traveling by air. It might take a while to understand why the airlines would hand out playing cards, but when your smartphone runs out of battery on a long flight, one can quickly see why....the cards provided a diversion in a time before in-flight entertainment.
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The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID Number 95-2253027.
