During World War II, the Dayton Project played a crucial role in the development of the atomic bomb. The project, led by Charles Allen Thomas, focused on manufacturing the triggers for the bomb's atomic chain reaction. Thomas, a research director at Dayton's Monsanto Chemical Company, declined a co-directorship position at the Manhattan Project headquarters in Los Alamos but agreed to oversee the development of the polonium trigger in Dayton. This trigger was key to the success of the atomic bomb. The Dayton Project employed 334 full-time employees and operated at various sites, including the former Bonebrake Theological Seminary and the General Electric Supply Warehouse. The Dayton scientists managed to separate sufficient polonium from irradiated bismuth slugs and form it into the bomb triggers. No deaths or injuries were reported as a result of exposure to polonium during the project. After the war, Thomas' career continued to thrive, and he eventually served as president of Monsanto. Two Dayton Project sites still exist, but others have been torn down. The Dayton Project's contributions to the Manhattan Project and the development of atomic bombs were significant.
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:51:35 GMT | Dayton Daily News