Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

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

Ennis C. Peters

Los Alamos, NM

Ennis Peters was a staff worker at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.

Rex McDowell

Y-12 Plant

Rex McDowell worked for the Tennessee Eastman Corporation at the Y-12 Plant.

C. T. Vettel

Oak Ridge, TN

C. T. Vettel worked for the United States Engineer District Office.

Clement James Rodden

Chicago, IL

Clement James Rodden was a consultatn at the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago during the Manhattan Project.