Who launched the kamikaze?
On October 25, 1944, during the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, the Japanese deploy kamikaze (“divine wind”) bombers against American warships for the first time. It will prove costly–to both sides.
Why did kamikaze pilots commit suicide?
Many of the kamikaze pilots believed their death would pay the debt they owed and show the love they had for their families, friends and emperor. “So eager were many minimally trained pilots to take part in suicide missions that when their sorties were delayed or aborted, the pilots became deeply despondent.
Were kamikaze pilots actually Japanese?
Most kamikaze pilots were not even Japanese. They were either Koreans, Filipinos, or Chinese men, who were forced into planes loaded with large amounts of explosives. The Japanese forced them to fly using the men’s families as hostages. Most kamikaze fighters were actually victims, not heroes.
Were the Japanese kamikaze special attack forces really that special?
The Kamikaze pilots became one of the more recognizable units of the Japanese military, but their suicide tactic wasn’t unique. Really, they were only one of the units under the umbrella of “Special Attack” forces. CMH Online lists a ground force in 1942 as a precursor to the Special Attack forces.
How did the kamikaze boats work?
The little suicide crash boats, meant to sink ships just off the coast, were made almost entirely of wood. Only one person navigated it, and it just ran on an old Toyota motor. All of that extra space and money went toward loading the boat up with explosives. And when it came to the Kamikaze pilots, they got specific planes, called the “Ohka.”
Were any of the Japanese planes on a one way mission?
None of them were on a one way mission. You might be confused because the Japanese military were loathe to be captured in battle. So if any plane (vehicle) was damaged, lost, and could not make it home they would deliberately aim for an enemy target and crash into it.