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

G. L. Parvis

Hanford, WA

Peter Casci

Tinian Island

Peter Casci served in the 1st Ordnance Squadron. 

David B. McNitt

Tinian Island

David B. McNitt served in the 1027th Air Material Squadron.

Darrell Dvorak

Trinity Site

Darrell Dvorak’s father-in-law, Colonel Clifford John Heflin, worked for the Manhattan Project.