What was the US plan after the second nuclear bomb in Nagasaki? I have difficulty in believing that the US had been betting on a complete capitulation from Japan.
I know it is not allowed to speculate here, but what was the plan to end the war? Did it involve a third bomb?
There was a 3 month plan to drop more bombs. In a conversation and memorandum, discussions involved how soon the next bomb could be deployed and a time table for delivery and use was speculated. On 13 August 1945, General Hull, a staff officer for General Marshall, and Colonel Seaman, a high ranking officer within the Manhattan Project, the recorded conversation discussed the next bomb could be deployed as early as 19 August 1945. The approximate lead time given for bombs to move from the assembly location to a forward operating location ready to drop from an aircraft was 9-10 days. After the the 3rd planned bomb drop, Hull and Seaman speculated that 3-4 bombs could be dropped within the months of September and October with allowance that if a 4th dropped in say September that there would only be 3 in October. This provided for a total of 6-7 more munitions within a 3 month window in addition to the Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the unnamed target for the 3rd.
Memorandums between General Groves, Manahattan Project director, and General Marshall, General of the Army/Chief of Staff of the Army from 1939-1945, provided similar timing.
General Hull - One of General Marshall's staff officers Colonel Seaman - part of the Manhattan Project General Groves - Director of the Manhattan Project General Marshall - First 5 star general (General of the Army)/ Chief of Staff of the Army from 1939-1945
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/72.pdf - nice transcript of the Hull and Seaman conversation about timing for more bomb deliveries.