The man in this picture is my maternal grandfather Carroll Cushing (d. 1955) who was stationed on Tinian during the late stages of the Pacific Theater of WWII. He apparently was a company clerk. According to family lore, he and a buddy surreptitiously took photos of themselves with the bomb and kept the pictures under tight wraps because while they didn’t know exactly what this thing was–though given this is allegedly the second bomb you’d think they could make a pretty good guess–but they knew that it was a Big Deal.
Is it possible that an atomic bomb would have had what looks like no security while it was waiting to be dropped? It’s hard to believe that something like that would just be resting out in the open somewhere, and that a couple low-ranking guys could manage to have time alone with it. Then again, what the hell else would it be? The fact that he was stationed on Tinian is beyond dispute. What’s more, wikipedia sez that three bomb assemblies were transported to the island and that sure looks like two more of the same under those tarps in the picture.
That might also be one of the “Pumpkin” bombs, inert or high-explosive versions of the Fat Man weapon, used for testing, training, and “live fire” bombing runs.
It looks like there are several others behind him, with some kind of covers draped over them. So I’d guess it’s not the one and only Fat Man, but one of a series of “pumpkin” bombs as pointed out by Ranchoth. (Between SDMB and Wikipedia, I learn something new every day.)
You can find photos of fatman. The OP’s picture does NOT match fatman in details.
Yes the overall shape is matching but look at the exact form , the details such as reinforcing elements and types of seams , and even the exact details (eg dents) in the fin assembly.
Fatman was not constructed off the same plan as pumpkins. Pumpkins are just a mock up, perhaps because they existed well before fatman did.
And the nuclear team easily made the design themselves , but in their own way.
It is simply not fatman; it is match for a pumpkin…
