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

P. W. Crane

Research & Development/300 Area

Crane worked at the 300 Area at Hanford during the Manhattan Project. 

Ted Galland

Hanford, WA

Galland worked at the 200 West Area at Hanford during the Manhattan Project.

Nathan Ballou

Chicago, IL

Nathan Ballou (1919-2016) was an American chemist. He was born in 1919 in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1941 he received a bachelor’s degree from the Duluth State Teachers College (now the University of Minnesota Duluth).

Lee Wright

B Reactor/100 Area

Wright worked at the 100-F Area at Hanford during the Manhattan Project.