Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

William B. Downey

ChaplainTinian Island

Hiroshima MissionWendover, UT
509th Composite GroupHiroshima MissionManhattan Project VeteranMilitary Veteran
Chaplain Bill Downey Delivers Sermon at Protestant Victory Service Listen to William B. Downey’s Oral History on Voices of the Manhattan Project

Captain William Downey served as the Protestant chaplain for the 509th Composite Group and led the crew of the Enola Gay in prayer before they departed for Hiroshima. Throughout his life, Downey maintained a relationship with the members of the group.

William Downey. Courtesy of the Joseph Papalia Collection.

Related Profiles

Valda B. Lemke

Chicago, IL

Valda B. Lemke was a laboratory assistant at the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago during the Manhattan Project.

Lawton D. Geiger

Oak Ridge, TN

Geiger worked in the United States Engineer District Office.

R. W. Hamer

Oak Ridge, TN

R. W. Hamer worked for the Roane-Anderson Company.

John R. Ruhoff

Oak Ridge, TN

John Ruhoff worked for the United States Engineer District Office.