Sgt. Hugh Henry Atkinson, s/n 39214204, Seattle Washington

b. 6 June, 1920

d. 6/7 August, 1945

The Radio Operator for Crew #42B on the Lonesome Lady was known to his crewmates as "Huggy" or "Hughey", although that was not popular with his wife, Eva. Pilot Tom Cartright described him as "probably the most popular member of the crew. Everyone liked Huggy".

The first known (purported) account of of Atkinson's death was written in The Jesuits, by Malachi Martin, in which Father Pedro Arrupe is quoted describing a B-29 [actually B-24] flyer tied to a pole on Aioi Bridge. An onlooker stated that the American was "the handsomest boy I ever saw", "with blonde hair, green eyes, white waxlike skin, a big body, and very strong-looking like a iion."  Whether this detailed physical description accurately describes Hugh Atkinson is unclear. One researcher concluded that it was not. Circumstantial evidence suggest it could have been. It never may be possible to know who was present or to know what actually occurred at the tragic scene. The drawings of survivors were crucial to inspiring historian Shigeaki Mori to tirelessly research the fate of the Americans in Hiroshima and with determined resolve to find descendants of the men to inform them as best he could about the final days of their heroic lives.

[Editor’s note: The editor of this page (MS) is very grateful to have established contact with Atkinson’s descendants and relatives who have shared information about Hugh Atkinson.]