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

R. B. Fenniger

X-10 Graphite Reactor

B. P. Ciaccio

Tinian Island

B. P. Ciaccio served in the 509th Headquarters and Base Services Squadron.

Martin Skinner

Grand Junction, CO

Martin Skinner was born and raised in Michigan, just outside of Detroit. He was trained in Chemical Engineering at Michigan State University before joining the army.

James A. Sugden

Los Alamos, NM