Table of Contents
What happens when a kamikaze pilot returned?
The pilots who could prove that their return was caused by conditions outside of their control were neither punished nor looked down upon. Even so, this had a limit as seen with one pilot who returned 9 times from his Kamikaze mission. He would be executed on his 9th return for cowardice.
What did kamikaze do for Japan?
Kamikaze attacks were a Japanese suicide bombing tactic designed to destroy enemy warships during World War II. Pilots would crash their specially made planes directly into Allied ships.
How many ships did kamikaze sink?
34 ships
Kamikaze attacks sank 34 ships and damaged hundreds of others during the war. At Okinawa they inflicted the greatest losses ever suffered by the U.S. Navy in a single battle, killing almost 5,000 men.
What happens if you survive Kamikaze?
If a Kamikaze somehow survived, he had to prepare to die again. During the Second World War Japanese military commanders, came up with a cunning and horrifying strategy of creating suicide bombers. The militarists instilled the patriotic concept of Kamikaze among the people.
What was the average age of a kamikaze pilot?
‘I didn’t want to die’ But is it true that all kamikaze pilots, who were mostly aged between 17 and 24, were wholly willing to die for their country?
Did kamikaze planes have guns?
It was found that heavy anti-aircraft guns such as the 5″/38 caliber gun (127 mm) were the most effective as they had sufficient firepower to destroy aircraft at a safe range from the ship, which was preferable since even a heavily damaged kamikaze could reach its target.
Did the kamikaze pilots really die willingly?
But the fact that he did survive meant that he was able to correct the central myth of the kamikaze—that these young pilots all went to their deaths willingly, enthused by the Samurai spirit.
What percentage of kamikaze attacks were successful?
Pilots would attempt to crash their aircraft into enemy ships in what was called a “body attack” (tai-atari) in aircraft loaded with bombs, torpedoes or other explosives. About 19% of kamikaze attacks were successful.
What is the difference between conventional and Kamikaze?
Accuracy was much higher than that of conventional attacks, and the payload and explosion larger; about 19% of kamikaze attacks were successful. A kamikaze could sustain damage that would disable a conventional attacker and still achieve its objective.
What did Captain Okamura call kamikaze pilots?
5.Captain Motoharu Okamura referred to kamikaze pilots as a “swarm of bees,” as they outnumbered available planes 3 to 1 and also because bees generally die after they have stung.^ 6.Many Kamikaze “volunteers” were placed under tremendous peer pressure to sign up, with possible retaliation against their families if they chose not to “volunteer.”^