The aircraft which dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima during WW2 is to go on display in America's Smithsonian Institution.

The rebuilt Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber – named Enola Gay – will be housed at the National Air and Space Museum’s new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre near Washington but – while mention will be made of its flight to Hiroshima to drop the first atomic bomb used in wartime – displays will not include details of the death toll nor photographs of the damage.

A spokesperson for the museum said the exhibition would focus principally on the aircraft’s technical history as part of the development of air and space technology in the US, insufficient space being available to provide an in-depth display of the effects of the bomb on Japan in both human and material terms.

The scheme has nonetheless met opposition, with two Japanese organisations asking that the display be cancelled, claiming it’s insensitive and attempts to justify the bombing.

Both the Hiroshima Council Against A and H Bombs and the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of the A-Bomb Sufferers Organisation have sent a letter of complaint to museum director, Jack Dailey, saying that atomic bombs are "designed to kill indiscriminately and are unacceptable on humanitarian grounds". Hiroshima City is also said to be considering sending a protest.

An exhibition in the mid-1990’s featuring just part of the aircraft also ran into trouble when it was accused of over-emphasising the number of Japanese casualties. The new display is scheduled to open on 15 December. Details: www.nasm.edu