August 14, 2025, marked the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Japan (V-J) Day and the end of World War II. Just days before the final, unconditional surrender of the Empire of Japan saw the first, and only, atomic bombs dropped on targets in combat missions.

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress dubbed “Enola Gay” had completed the first-ever nuclear weapons strike on August 6, 1945. As terrifying as its payload was, the B-29 was an equally giant leap forward in weapons technology. Today, Enola Gay resides in preservation with the Smithsonian Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Victory In Japan Day

The celebrations held on May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day), were overshadowed by the intensifying brutality of the Pacific campaign that raged on even as the Allie

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