WAR DEPARTMENT 
                    OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF 
                         WASHINGTON 25, D.C. 

                                                         25 July 1945 
TO: General Carl Spaatz 
    Commanding General 
    United States Army Strategic Air Forces 


1. The 509 Composite Group, 20th Air Force will deliver its first
special bomb as soon as weather will permit visual bombing after about
3 August 1945 on one of the targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata,
Nagasaki. To carry military and civilian scientific personnel from the
War Department to observe and record the effects of the explosion of
the bomb, additional aircraft will accompany the airplane carrying the
bomb. The observing planes will stay several miles distant from the
point of impact of the bomb.

2. Additional bombs will be delivered on the above targets as soon as
made ready by the project staff. Further instructions will be issued
concerning targets other than those listed above.

3. Dissemination of any and all information concerning the use of the
weapon against Japan is reserved to the Secretary of War and the
President of the United States. Communiques on the subject or releases
of information will be issued by Commanders in the field without
specific prior authority. Any news stories will be sent to the War
Department for special clearance.

4. The foregoing directive is issued to you by direction and with the
approval of the Secretary of War and of the Chief of Staff, USA. It is
desired that you personally deliver one copy of this directive to
General MacArthur and one copy to Admiral Nimitz for their
information.

                                               THOS. T. HANDY 
                                               General, G.S.C. 
                                               Acting Chief of Staff