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

George Maronde

Chicago, IL

George Maronde was a security guard at the University of Chicago Metallurgical Lab. He stood guard outside Stagg Field when Chicago Pile-1 went critical on December 2, 1942.

James L. Pollock

Hanford, WA

Floyd M. Keeports

Los Alamos, NM

Anthony Luccioni

Tinian Island

Anthony Luccioni served in the 393rd Bombardment Squadron.