1945 Original US Army Airforce Map of Hiroshima Japan Kure Submarine Naval Base, Atomic Bomb

Cartographer :USAF

This is an incredibly rare, extremely detailed & original United States Army Air Force map of the defenses, moorings, submarine bays and depth soundings of the Japanese Kure naval base near Hiroshima produced by the United States Army Air Force in 1945 & is an incredible find. Kure Naval Base was established in 1889, and the Kure Naval Dockyard began operating in 1903. This was the best naval port in the Far East, and is most famous as the site where the battleship Yamato was built. Additionally, Kure was the biggest arsenal town in Japan.

It is possible that this map has a direct link with the first of 2 A-Bomb attack on Japan in August 1945 as Hiroshima was generally left alone by the United States Army Air Force whilst other cities within Japan were being bombed daily in mid 1945. I have been unable to find another like it. This is an original map folded covered in a type of early laminate and seems to me given the plastic protection and folds this would have more than likely used by a United States Army Air Force navigation crew to identify Hiroshima.  (Ref: M&B; Tooley)

General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy & stable
Paper color: - White
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Red
General color appearance: - Authentic 
Paper size: - 17 1/2in x 12 1/2in (445mm x 320mm)
Margins: - Min 0in (0mm)

Margins: - None
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None