Who were the fanatical kamikaze pilots of WWII and how deadly were they?

Kamikaze, a term that literally means "divine wind," is a term that has become synonymous with the Japanese suicide pilots who carried out attacks against Allied forces during World War II.

While the term may have been popularized during this period, its origins can be traced back to the 13th century and the attempted Mongol invasions of Japan.

During the Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, the Japanese were able to repel the invading forces thanks to the intervention of typhoons that destroyed the Mongol fleets.

These typhoons were seen as a divine wind, or kamikaze, that protected Japan from the invaders. In honor of this event, a shrine was built on the island of Tsushima to commemorate the "divine wind."

Fast forward to the 20th century, and the term kamikaze would take on a new meaning during the Pacific Theater of World War II.

As the war turned against Japan, and their losses mounted, the Imperial Japanese Navy began to develop a new tactic that involved using suicide pilots to attack Allied ships.

To become a kamikaze pilot, one had to meet a certain set of criteria. They had to be unmarried and childless, and preferably have some flying experience.

The pilots were given a crash course in flying and weapons training, and then were sent on their suicide mission.

The role of the kamikaze pilot was to crash their plane into an Allied ship, with the aim of causing as much damage as possible.

The pilots were not expected to return from their mission, and were told to "make a clean sweep of the enemy with one sortie."

The first kamikaze attack took place on October 25, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In this attack, Japanese pilots sank an escort carrier and damaged several other ships.

The Battle of Okinawa, which took place from April to June 1945, saw the largest number of kamikaze attacks.

During this battle, the Japanese sent over 1,900 kamikaze pilots to attack Allied ships. These attacks caused significant damage, sinking or damaging over 300 ships and killing over 4,900 Allied sailors.

The notion that all kamikaze pilots were fanatics is a common misconception. While there were some kamikaze pilots who were fanatical and truly believed in the ideology of the Japanese Empire and the need to sacrifice themselves for their country, not all pilots shared these beliefs.

Many kamikaze pilots were actually conscripted into service and did not have a choice in their assignment.

Some pilots were promised rewards or incentives for volunteering for these missions, while others were threatened with punishment or harm to their families if they did not comply with orders.

There were also instances where pilots expressed doubts or reluctance about carrying out their missions, but ultimately felt that they had no choice but to follow orders.

For some pilots, the decision to become a kamikaze was a way to preserve their honor and maintain their reputation as a warrior.

The idea of sacrificing oneself for one's country was not a new concept in Japan. In fact, it was seen as a way to fulfill one's duty and uphold one's honor.

This concept was reinforced by the teachings of Bushido, which emphasized the importance of dying with honor rather than surrendering.

Bushido, which means "the way of the warrior," was a code of conduct that was an important part of Japanese culture and society.

It emphasized loyalty, duty, and honor, and was deeply ingrained in the mindset of Japanese military personnel, including kamikaze pilots.

For many kamikaze pilots, their decision to undertake a suicide mission was a way to preserve their honor and maintain their reputation as a warrior.

By sacrificing themselves in battle, they believed that they were fulfilling their duty to their country and their Emperor, and demonstrating their loyalty to the Japanese people.

The code of honor and duty embodied by Bushido played a significant role in the ideology of kamikaze, as it provided a framework for pilots to understand their mission and the sacrifices they were making.

For these pilots, the decision to become a kamikaze was not only a military strategy, but also a way to uphold their honor and fulfill their duty to their country.

It is rare for a kamikaze pilot to have survived the attack as their mission was to crash their aircraft into enemy targets, which typically resulted in their own death.

Despite this, there were a few cases where kamikaze pilots survived their missions. Some pilots may have had technical problems with their aircraft, which prevented them from completing their mission, or they may have missed their target.

In other cases, pilots may have ejected from their planes before the impact, either by choice or due to a malfunction. However, these instances were rare, and most kamikaze pilots did not survive their attacks.

Despite their effectiveness, kamikaze attacks were not enough to turn the tide of the war. In fact, they may have actually hurt Japan's war effort in the long run.

The loss of experienced pilots, along with the damage to ships and equipment, weakened Japan's ability to defend itself against Allied attacks.

Today, kamikaze pilots are remembered as a symbol of Japan's willingness to sacrifice everything for their country.

While some see them as heroes, others view their actions as senseless and unnecessary.

In popular culture, kamikaze pilots have been portrayed in films, television shows, and literature.

One of the most famous portrayals is in the novel and subsequent movie, "The Wind Rises," which tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter plane, which was used by kamikaze pilots.