Answer to Question #4279 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Historical Issues/Applications

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

In the early 90s, I read an article in the Health Physics Society Newsletter that described how the United States acquired fissile material from Germany at the close of World War II. The article described how a German U-boat surrendered its radioactive contents to the United States. The submarine was later docked in New England and some or all of the fissile material was used in the second A-bomb. Who could I contact to locate the details of this story?

The article you refer to can be found at http://www.orau.org/ptp/articlesstories/u234.htm.

As indicated there, the reference that I used was "Japan's Secret War" by Wilcox. Since that story was written, more information has become available. To find it, go to the Amazon Web site and do a search on "U-234." You will locate a book and even a DVD.

I did not say that the uranium was used in the A-bomb. There is speculation that the captured uranium being transported in ²³⁴U was processed and that it made its way into the bomb, but that is a guess. I suspect that some people would like that to have been the case and are, therefore, more inclined to believe it.

Paul Frame, CHP, PhD

Answer posted on February 24, 2005. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.