Information on the Kamikaze pilots
In 1281 Japan was under attack by a Mongol invasion. The attack was led by none other than the great Genghis Khan. But, just as it seemed that the invading Mongols were about to overwhelm the Japanese, a great typhoon swept through the land, destroying the entire Mongol Army. From that point on the typhoon that saved Japan has become known as the Kamikaze or Divine Wind.
By 1945 it was apparent that Japan was losing the War in the Pacific. As a last
ditch effort to turn around their flagging fortunes, the Japanese revived the
name Kamikaze and applied it to the suicide missions of their air force. Japanese
Vice Admiral Takashiro Ohnishi had noted that the most effective way to inflict
damage to warships of the allies was to crash planes into them. He pointed out
that one accidental crash could do more damage than ten planes firing machine
guns. It was decided that pilots would henceforth purposely crash their planes,
which were to be loaded with half a ton of explosives, into enemy warships.
The idea of suicide as a part of national military policy was completely new
in the history of warfare. The surprise attacks were to take the Americans completely
by surprise. They were bewildered by the Japanese suicide missions, completely
unable to comprehend the mentality behind them.
The fact they were to go on suicide missions was accepted without question by
the Japanese pilots. All newly conscripted into the Japanese Armed Forces were
indoctrinated with the following five point oath:
(1) A soldier must make loyalty his obligation
(2) A soldier must make propriety his way of life
(3) A soldier must highly esteem military valor
(4) A soldier must have a high regard for righteousness
(5) A soldier must live a simple life
Especially emphasized among the Japanese Soldier code was unyielding allegiance to Emperor and country. The belief in the Kamikaze was stronger than ever. It was adamantly believed that, because they were fighting for their Emperor God, the Kamikaze would bring them deliverance at the darkest hour, just as it had in the 13th Century. In fact, the call for kamikaze pilots drew a staggering response. Three times as many applied for suicide flights as the number of planes available. Experienced pilots were turned down. They were needed to train the younger men in how to fly to their deaths. As a result, the majority of those accepted were in their late teens. They felt grateful to have the opportunity to prove that they were real men.
The Kamikaze missions were a success in that they ended up sinking 40 American
ships in the Pacific. In the Philippines another 16 enemy ships were destroyed.
The cost to the Japanese was hundreds of lives, eagerly given up. But it was
not enough. Unlike the divine wind that decimated the Mongols in the 13th Century,
the kamikaze were unable to halt the march of the allies. The surrender of their
Emperor, broadcast to the nation via the radio was deeply shocking to the Japanese
people. They had seen the Emperor as an infallible God and to hear him utter
the word surrender was beyond comprehension. Their confidence was completely
shattered. The divine wind never blew.
With the passing of time, however, some of those who survived the Kamikaze raids
have become criticial of the policy. Saburo Sakai, a former Imperial Navy Ace,
says: “ Kamikaze is a surprise attack, according to our ancient war tactics.
Surprise attacks will be successful the first time, maybe two or three times.
But what fool would continue the same attacks for ten months? Emperor Hirohito
must have realised it. He should have said ‘Stop.’”
Another fighter pilot who narrowly escaped a kamikaze mission was Sadamu Komachi.
He comments on the pointlessness of the kamikaze attacks. “ There was no
strategy other than making suicidal attacks, carrying bombs. The commanding
officer had no other strategy. It was a dying struggle. The Japanese chiefs
of staff were struggling very hard. The strategy was ‘must is master.’”
So, the sacrifices of the kamikaze pilots were, ultimately, in vain. Yet, the
incredible Japanese devotion to a cause, which was so evident through their
actions, would see their nation rise from the ashes of defeat to be come a major
player in the post war world.