Professional Documents
Culture Documents
story of
the kamikazes
(suicide) pilots from japanese empire during the 2 world war by hand
Fue en este caso una mujer, Hanna Reitsch quien le sugiri a Hitler, quien
mostr su oposicin "por cuestiones de humanidad" a tal idea. Sin
embargo, Reitsch consigui llevar adelante su plan. En el diario personal
de Goebbles hay varias referencias a ataques kamikaze planeados.
De hecho se contabilizaron esos trescientos "voluntarios" del Tercer Reich para
acometer los ataqueskamikazes. Reitsch, piloto de pruebas. Ferviente
patriota y considerada lo ms parecido a una herona del cielo. Quera
convencer al Fhrer de las oportunidades de triunfo de las "bombas humanas".
Reitsch destac en multitud de actividades aeronuticas, fue la primera
persona que atraves los Alpes en planeador. Particip en el prototipo de
"bombas voladoras" V1 y fue la primera mujer que recibi la Cruz de Hierro (de
primera clase).
La Cultura de la Sumisin
igos
muertos solo por unKamikaze. Una muerte "prctica". Sin embargo, se percibe
cierto tono de sumisin en las opiniones que han llegado hasta nosotros por
parte de estas bombas humanas. Un tono de sumisin al no encontrar
alternativa, era imposible que se negaran a una demanda de su patria. El honor
estaba en juego. Cuando un soldado se vea en la texitura de dar un paso al
frente y mostrarse voluntario para esa ltima misin: una obligacin moral le
arrastraba. Por ltimo, el nombre de Dios se nombraba usualmente, situndolo
en el centro de la accin, en forma pasiva, guiando el camino de los soldados.
Un Dios equiparado al Emperador. El uso del lenguaje religioso alcanza al propio
nombre de Kamikaze: "Viento Divino".
Despus ya no ests".
Long ago, other nations have made use of this "weapon" in the war as a
resource. And almost all nations in conflict they did during World War II. Yes,
the Japanese perfected, how could it be otherwise, the method.
Nor were the Japanese the first to be used as suicide missions as Kamikaze
against the enemy goal. That is, literally crashing his aircraft against the
enemy in the war.
Were the Russians, under the leadership of Stalin, who have the dubious
honor of being the first to perform attacks that style: kamikazes. Specific
orders for small-sized aircraft crashed into Hitler's bombers attacking the
nerve centers of Moscow were given.
Happened on a June 22, 1941, about three hundred kilometers from the
Russian border, piloted by Leonid Butelin, plane bomber rammed a German
Junkers-88, at 17:15, cutting off the tail with the propeller. Japanese Nazis
also anticipated.
Hanna Reitsch was in this case a woman, Hanna Reitsch who suggested to
Hitler, who showed his opposition "for reasons of humanity" to the idea.
However, Reitsch managed to carry out his plan. In Goebbels's diary there
are several references to kamikaze attacks planned.
In fact these three hundred "volunteers" of the Third Reich were counted to
undertake kamikaze attacks. Reitsch, test pilot. Fervent patriot and
considered the closest thing to a hero of the sky. He wanted to convince the
Fhrer opportunities triumph of "human bombs".
Culture of Submission
Emperor He argued also that these powers were "hampering the economic
relations of Japan." No possibility of agreement, Hirohito declares war to
"unreasonably delay the agreement" as well as "no show spirit of
compromise".
The Japanese probably knew from the beginning that his position was much
lower.
The use of suicide bombers was only possible with the numerical inferiority
of forces, while a patriotic feeling itself, and almost unique, of his character.
It was very difficult for Japanese air troops inflicting damage to the enemy
and return without having fallen.
From a practical standpoint, it would lose men may not reach fulfill its
mission. Was not it more productive collide, hit with the enemy, trying to
sink an aircraft carrier? Thousands of soldiers enemkamikazesigos
Pacific that if his plane could not return, would be launched against an
"important objective".
The way in which these men faced this fact differs from each other. Their
testimonies, in the form of a letter to his family normally, as we shall see,
gives us an idea of their feelings, opinions and philosophy of being a human
bomb who sacrifices on behalf of their nation.
The Japanese army soon realized that an isolated, or more kamikaze attack,
did not object. They would not be profitable from a practical standpoint.
Nor contrubua that it could profitably establish if carried out sporadically.
And from a practical point of view absolutely, the Japanese military
authorities were aware of the professional and numerical inferiority of both
armies. It was very difficult to come back from an air mission. US naval and
air forces were far superior technically.
"Dear Parents Rejoice I've been offered a splendid opportunity to die The
fate of our motherland depends on the decisive battle in the South Seas,
where I fall as do the lush cherry blossoms..".
Or reflected in this: ". Thank you parents, for the 23 years that I care you
have hope that this action somehow pay what you have done for me."
Put in front of the nation, his life, leaving behind family, children ... "Motoko,
took my wrist tickets you liked so much when you were a baby. In this way
you will be with me until the last moment. I just wanted you to know. Dad".
The "Hachimaki" tape was part of the ritual of the kamikaze. The first attack
killed 9 American soldiers of the aircraft carrier "Intrepid" The ship was not
badly damaged, however, the Americans were quick to realize the
dangerous "weapon" that they faced.
Air Unit was Shimoshizu who in early 1945 devised a 88-page manual
containing detailed instructions to act against the enemy and inflict them
aeronvaes the greatest possible kamikaze davion hundidoao established.
In the text all kinds of orders and advice that had mingled priority: teach
techniques for the pilot to complete its mission. That included the
appearance of piloting the plane and the spiritual aspect, both vital to
complete the mission. Eighty years after the end of World War West it begins
to know this stretch of history that is hardly known.
This manual was widely used, sometimes it used typical of what might be
called sect advice, while focusing the individual to believe blindly and
dictation: "If you eliminate all thoughts about life and death, you will be able
to feel total disregard for earthly life, "it read in its first pages. They try to
make important mission: "Hunde the enemy and thus will prepare the way
for the victory of our people."
The manual attempts to encourage the driver: "A plane ready to attack you
so desire." A curious advice before carrying out the mission. ". Breathe
deeply three times Say mentally" Yah "(field), kyu (ball) and Joh (according)
Presumably it was not so much the meaning of words such as how, he said
these three words, forced to breathe.
The fact that the pilot could not complete the mission, to do a
comprehensive language used is also provided. "Do not lose heart" "Do not
waste your life in vain." The tips are crucial: "Do not crash into the tower of
the bridge, white beam enters the bridge tower and chimney Perhaps the
most curious part comes at the tips on the final moment." You will feel that
the increased velocidadha suddenly and abrupt.
At that time you see your mother's face. No smiles or cries. It is his usual
face.
Emotive is increasing: "You can not see your face right now, but, by the
succession of pleasant memories that cross your mind, you think that at the
last moment were smiling then maybe asientas or you wonder what
happened.. You may even hear a last sound like a broken glass.
Not only they were used planes on suicide missions by the Japanese. They
also made use of a speedboat created with the aim to become weapons
against the Americans.
They reached speeds of 50 mph and was manned by one man. In reality, the
aim was not to crash, but throw the explosive charges that carried well deep
well in the center, and turn the ship at the last moment for the Japanese
soldier saved his life, something on the other side quite unlikely.
It came to manufacture over six hundred units during World War II and in his
"achievements" highlights the sinking of a submarine hunt, landing craft,
and even damage to the odd destroyer.
This meant a difficult position for the Americans, and historians point as a
reason for deciding in July 1945 to make use of its nuclear weapons, clearly
a measure that far exceeded the disproportion.
Coupled with the huge Japanese aviation industry, and see that the conflict
could prolong too in time.
Kamikaze
Para otros usos de este trmino, vase Kamikaze (desambiguacin).
El USS Bunker Hill fue atacado por 2 aviones suicidas en menos de 30 segundos de diferencia el 11
de mayo de 1945.
Aunque hubo diversas unidades suicidas en tierra, mar y aire, esta unidad especial de
ataque es la ms representativa de su tipo.
En Japn no se utiliza con este sentido la palabra kamikaze. Se prefiere el trmino Shinp
tokubetsu kgeki tai ( Unidad Especial de Ataque Shinp ) o su
abreviacin tokktai ( ). En el resto del mundo el uso de esta palabra se ha
extendido y se aplica sin mucho rigor a todo tipo de ataques suicidas, sin importar el
?
1 Etimologa y origen
o
1.1 Etimologa
1.2 Origen
2 Contexto
o
3 Historia
o
3.8 Consecuencias
4.1 Entrenamiento
6 Galera
7 Vase tambin
8 Referencias
8.1 Notas
8.2 Bibliografa
9 Enlaces externos
Etimologa y origen[editar]
Etimologa[editar]
Kanjis que forma la palabraShinp, interpretado errneamente por los traductores estadounidenses
como kamikaze.
Origen[editar]
Artculo principal: Invasiones de los mongoles a Japn
El origen del mito kamikaze se origina en el siglo XIII, cuando una flota procedente
de Mongolia, bajo el mando de Kublai Khan, se present en dos ocasiones (la primera
en 1274 y la segunda en 1281)6 en costas japonesas con la finalidad de invadir el pas.
Afortunadamente para los habitantes, quienes no estaban preparados para combatir contra
un ejrcito mucho mejor preparado y enfrentar una invasin de grandes proporciones,
un tifn arras la flotainvasora durante el intento de invasin de 1281. 7 Dicho tifn fue
llamado Viento Divino ( ) y considerado como una seal de que Japn era el elegido
por los dioses y, por lo tanto, stos se encargaran de su seguridad8 y supervivencia.9
?
Contexto[editar]
Contexto histrico[editar]
Artculo principal: Frente del Sudeste de Asia en la Segunda Guerra Mundial
Avance japons en el Pacfico entre 1937 y 1942. En rojo se muestran los pases Aliados.
El ejrcito japons sigui avanzando en el Pacfico. En los seis meses siguientes al ataque
a Pearl Harbor haban conseguido casi todos sus objetivos navales y su flota permaneca
relativamente intacta. Haban hundido o daado de manera importante todos los
acorazados de Estados Unidos en el Pacfico. Las flotas britnica y holandesa del Lejano
Oriente haban sido destruidas, y la Real Armada Australiana haba sido rechazada hacia
sus puertos de origen.13
La nica fuerza estratgica Aliada de importancia, que permaneca oponindose a todo
esto, era la base naval de Pearl Harbor, incluyendo los tres portaaviones de la Flota del
Pacfico de los Estados Unidos.14 Los japoneses enviaron una flota hacia las islas Midway,
un atoln perifrico del archipilago de Hawi, con el objetivo de atraer lo que quedaba de
la flota estadounidense a una batalla decisiva. El 5 de junio, bombarderos
estadounidenses avistaron la fuerza japonesa y hundieron 4 de sus mejores portaaviones,
un acorazado y 275 aviones durante la batalla de Midway, a un costo de un solo
portaaviones, el Yorktown.15 sta fue una victoria muy importante para los Estados Unidos
y marc el punto de inflexin en la guerra del Pacfico. La capacidad estadounidense en la
construccin de barcos y aviones superaba ampliamente a la japonesa, la cual nunca
disfrutara otra vez de tal superioridad numrica.
Despus de la victoria en la batalla de Midway, las fuerzas de Estados Unidos comenzaron
un avance implacable en las costas del ocano Pacfico. Rpidamente los aviones de
combate japoneses se vieron superados tanto en nmero como en caractersticas tcnicas
de los nuevos aviones estadounidenses, sobre todo con la entrada del F6F Hellcat y
el F4U Corsair. El Servicio Areo de la Flota Imperial Japonesa fue derrotada durante los
combates areos de las campaas de las Islas Salomn y la de Nueva Guinea.
Finalmente, durante la batalla del Mar de Filipinas, los japoneses perdieron ms de 400
aviones y pilotos. Los pilotos ms veteranos y con mejor preparacin comenzaron a
escasear.
Antes de la creacin oficial de un cuerpo especial se haban registrado colisiones
deliberadas por parte de pilotos cuyo avin haba sido severamente daado y no queran
verse capturados, situacin que ocurri tanto del lado japons como en el de las fuerzas
aliadas. De acuerdo a Axell & Kase, estos suicidios eran individuales, decisiones tomadas
en el mismo momento de hombres que estaban mentalmente preparados para morir. 16 En
la mayora de los casos existe poca evidencia que fueran algo ms que colisiones
accidentales, normales en las intensas batallas tierra - mar.
Desde 1942 diferentes voces dentro del ejrcito japons se levantaron con el afn de
recurrir a tcticas suicidas para emplearse en la guerra y tratar de revertir nuevamente los
papeles. En medio de grandes controversias, uno de los protagonistas y principales
opositores era el vicealmirante Yokoi, quien expona que los motivos para oponerse, ms
all de la muerte de los pilotos, eran tres principalmente: 17
1. Era sumamente costoso adiestrar a un piloto para que l y su avin tan slo
hicieran un slo viaje.
2. Los aviones por s solos no tendran una fuerza de impacto tal para destruir o
daar severamente un portaaviones, a menos que se estrellara contra la pista de
aterrizaje cuando sta tuviera muchos aviones enemigos.
Contexto cultural[editar]
Durante los aos 1944 y 1945, los japoneses estaban profundamente influenciados por
el sintosmo estatal, el cual enfatiz profundamente reverenciar al emperador desde que
fue establecido como religin oficial durante la restauracin Meiji. Conforme fueron
avanzando los aos, se promovieron fuertemente los sentimientos nacionalistas.
En 1890 se aprob lareestructuracin Imperial de la Educacin, con la que los estudiantes
deban hacer un juramento de ofrecerse con coraje al Estado as como de proteger a la
familia Imperial. El ltimo ofrecimiento era dar la propia vida. El morir por el pas o por el
emperador era considerado como todo un honor. Los autores Axel & Kase apuntan:
El hecho es que innumerables soldados, marineros y pilotos estaban determinados a morir, a
convertirse en Eirei, que significa Espritus Guardianes del pas[...] Muchos japoneses sentan que
ser consagrados al santuario Yasukuni era un honor especial dado que el emperador lo visitaba dos
veces por ao para pagar tributo.19 El Yasakuni era el nico templo que deificaba hombres
comunes,19 el cual el emperador visitaba.20
Los jvenes japoneses eran adoctrinados desde una temprana edad con estos ideales.
Adems del argumento del santuario Yasukuni, se comenzaron a construir una gran
cantidad de monumentos conmemorativos de guerra desde 1905 despus de la guerra
Ruso-Japonesa. Es de hacer notar su construccin cerca de las escuelas y no cerca de
templos.19 Despus del comienzo de las tcticas suicidas, peridicos y libros distribuyeron
avisos, artculos e historias sobre estos pilotos con la finalidad de ayudar en el
reclutamiento. En octubre de 1944, el Nippon Times cit al comandante Sekio Nishina:
El espritu de la Unidad de Ataque Especial es el gran espritu que corre por la sangre de todo
japons [...] La accin de estrellarse que simultneamente mata al enemigo y al piloto mismo sin
error es llamado Ataque Especial [...] Cada japons es capaz de convertirse en un miembro de la
Unidad de Ataque Especial.21
La bandera del sol naciente era la insignia naval de Japn, la cual portaron muchos pilotos en su
ltimo viaje.
Los publicistas tambin fomentaron la idea de que los pilotos suicidas eran consagrados al
santuario Yasukuni y distribuyeron historias exageradas de su valenta, incluso
distribuyendo cuentos para nios con pilotos suicidas como tema central. 22
Antes de la salida de cada piloto a su misin final se llevaban a cabo ceremonias en las
que se les entregaba la bandera de Japn o la bandera del sol naciente (insignia de la flota
naval japonesa) con inscripciones inspiracionales o espirituales, una pistola o una katana y
generalmente se les ofreca una copa de sake o t antes de despegar. Los pilotos usaban
adems una banda con el sol naciente y una senninbari o cinta de mil puntadas tejida
por mil mujeres quienes hacan una puntada cada una.23 Los pilotos solan componer y
recitar un jisei no ku ( poema compuesto cercano a la muerte), tradicin que
efectuaban los samuris antes de cometer seppuku. Los pilotos llevaban plegarias de su
familia y se les concedancondecoraciones militares.
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Historia[editar]
Teniente Ibusuki
Teniente Yokohama
En esta reunin el Vicealmirante nishi les inform a los presentes que se haba activado
la Operacin Sho25 un da atrs, por lo que sera necesario retrasar por lo menos una
semana a la flota estadounidense con la finalidad de permitir el arribo de la Segunda Flota
al mando delvicealmirante Kurita (la cual inclua los acorazados Musashi y Yamato) con la
finalidad de hacer frente con todo el potencial armamentstico de Japn.
El vicealmirante nishi hizo hincapi en que la nica manera efectiva de lograr este
objetivo, desde su punto de vista, era implementar un grupo especial de ataque suicida
formados de cazas Zero cargados con bombas de 250 kilogramos.26 La reunin continu
hasta la madrugada del 20 de octubre, donde fue formalizada la formacin del grupo
especial. El comandante Inoguchi propuso nombrar la unidad especial como Shinp27 y el
Vicealmirante nishi orden que el nuevo Grupo Especial de Ataque Shinp estuviera
dividido en cuatro grupos:28
La fecha tentativa para el primer ataque fue fijada para el 25 de octubre y contara con la
participacin de 26 aviones cazas (13 tokktai y 13 escoltas) comandados por el
teniente Yukio Seki.
Fotografa de la ceremonia del primer ataquetokktai donde aparecen Yukio Seki recibiendo una
taza de agua y el vicealmirante Takijir nishi (en primer plano, de espaldas).
primer grupo no pudo ser confirmada debido a que el encargado de entregar el informe no
regres a la base, pero se sabe que el segundo grupo impact un portaaviones aliado con
dos aviadores y lo hundi, mientras que el tercero hizo impacto con otro, averindolo. 35
Despus del tremendo golpe que recibieron las fuerzas del vicealmirante Kurita y del
almirante Nishimura estaba claro que haba fallado la Operacin Sho, misma que haba
servido de pretexto para formar la Shinp tokubetsu kgeki tai ( Unidad
Especial de Ataque Shinp ). Sin embargo, las operaciones de este tipo continuaran
desde Filipinas hasta el mes de enero de 1945, cuando tropas Aliadas desembarcaron en
Filipinas y se decidi instruir otra base en Formosa.
?
Tipo de Barco
Hundidos
Averiados
Hundidos
Averiados
Portaaviones
13
23
Acorazados
Cruceros
Destructores
23
Destructores Escolta
23
34
12
Otros
10
Total
37
59
16
87
Transportes
37
Grupo 1.- Atacantes: 2 Suisei (cdigo aliado Judy), 2 zero; Escolta: 2 zero
Durante esta operacin se inform que se haban podido realizar pocos impactos
efectivos, aunque uno de los blancos alcanzados fue el portaaviones Ticonderoga.40
que regresar a la base. Esta misin represent tambin un fracaso ya que solo se da un
portaaviones enemigo.44
Fotografa tomada desde el USS Washington al momento de que el USS Enterprise es alcanzado
por un ataque suicida el 14 de mayo de 1945.
Desde comienzos de 1945 los dirigentes japoneses discutan cmo detener el implacable
avance de los aliados. Despus de la cada de Iwo Jima, la invasin y las hostilidades en
tierras japonesas era cuestin de tiempo. El Cuartel General Imperialtena previsto que las
fuerzas de los Aliados desembarcaran en Okinawa, por lo que se hicieron preparativos
defensivos desde enero de 1945. Con el enemigo pisando ya territorio nacional, las
operaciones suicidas no slo se incrementaron, sino que se coordinaron ataques conjuntos
entre la flota area y la Armada por primera vez en toda la guerra. Este tipo de acciones
conjuntas fueron conocidas como Kikusui,45 de las cuales se realizaron diez entre el 6 de
abril y el 22 de junio de 1945. En esta serie de ataques fue donde ms barcos aliados
resultaron daados o hundidos.
La ms representativa de estas misiones fue la que se ejecut el 6 de abril, donde los
barcos restantes de la otrora gloriosa Flota Imperial, en camino en la
denominada Operacin Ten-G se uni a la Quinta Flota Area para hacer frente
deliberadamente contra el ejrcito enemigo instalado ya en Okinawa. Alrededor del
medioda del da siguiente (7 de abril), 300 aviones de los aliados atacaron el remanente
de la flota japonesa. Para las 15:00 horas, el acorazado Yamato, el crucero ligero Yahagi y
los destructores Asashimo y Hamakaze estaban hundidos debido al intenso ataque.
Adems, otros dos destructores, el Isozake y el Kasumi, fueron puestos fuera de combate
y hundidos por los mismos japoneses sin que pudieran hacer algn ataque
significativo.46 Durante esta batalla Japn perdi seis barcos de los tan slo diez con que
contaba para sta. Adems, al menos 2.500 hombres perdieron la vida. 47
Fotografa de un Yokosuka MXY-7, otro dispositivo suicida creado por los japoneses en la Segunda
Guerra Mundial.
Conjuntamente con las operaciones Kikusui, se desarrollaron sin mucho xito otro tipo de
artefactos suicidas y explosivos como el caso de los aviones cohete Yokosuka MXY7 (llamados por los japoneses Ohka ( flor de cerezo) a las cuales los aliados llamaron
despectivamente bombas baka (tontas)). Estas consistan en pequeos aparatos
monoplaza de madera cargados con 1.800 kilogramos de explosivos y propulsados
por cohetes. El fracaso de este modelo radic en que eran transportados por bombarderos
sumamente lentos, los cuales en su gran mayora fueron derribados mucho antes de llegar
a su objetivo.
?
El 12 de abril se puso en marcha la operacin Kikusui nmero 2, integrada por ocho MXY7, 80 aviones tokktai y ms de 100 cazas de escolta. El plan consisti en arribar a
Okinawa por distintas rutas para atacar desde varias direcciones. De los bombarderos
cargados con MXY-7 6 fueron derribados antes incluso de llegar al lugar.48
De marzo a agosto de 1945, este es el resumen de los ataques:
Tipo de barco
Hundidos
Daados
Portaaviones
Hundidos
Daados
11
Acorazados
12
18
10
Cruceros
29
27
Destructores
18
11
61
Dragaminas
22
Otros
27
22
80
Total
97
89
16
185
Por lo menos 1450 pilotos suicidas salieron de las bases japonesas, causando la baja de
por lo menos 5.000 elementos de las tropas de los aliados, lo que representa las bajas
ms numerosas en las fuerzas estadounidenses en una sola batalla. 50
ltimo ataque[editar]
Despus de los mortales bombardeos atmicos sobre Hiroshima (6 de agosto de 1945)
y Nagasaki (9 de agosto de 1945) y la entrada de la Unin Sovitica en la guerra, se
llevaron a cabo una serie de reuniones en el alto mando para ofrecer la rendicin
incondicional de Japn. Algunos sugirieron la rendicin desde el mismo da 9, pero algunos
mantuvieron que deba de hacerse un ltimo esfuerzo para obtener condiciones ms
favorables, por lo que la declaracin de rendicin no se hizo pblica sino hasta el da 15 de
agosto.
En la madrugada de ese da las tropas japonesas tenan conocimiento que el Emperador
Shwa dara un informe pblico y ya se anticipaba que se trataba del anuncio oficial de la
rendicin del pas. Sin embargo, el vicealmirante de la Quinta Flota Matome Ugaki convoc
once bombarderos para efectuar el ltimo ataque suicida contra la flota enemiga. Cuatro
de estos aviones no pudieron despegar, mientras que los otros siete se lanzaron al ataque.
A las 19:24 del 15 de agosto de 1945 tuvo lugar la ltima de estas embestidas. 51 52
Consecuencias[editar]
Suicidio del creador de la Unidad Especial de Ataque[editar]
El mismo 15 de agosto, fecha en que el Emperador transmiti un mensaje para hacer
oficial la rendicin incondicional de Japn, el vicealmirante nishi sostuvo algunas
reuniones oficiales en su cuartel. Entrada la noche decidi cometer el suicidio ritual
del seppuku y fue hallado tendido en el suelo por el personal de la base en la madrugada.
Si bien nishi hizo un corte limpio en la zona abdominal, fall en cortarse la garganta y se
rehus tanto a recibir auxilio mdico como a recibir el golpe de gracia. Despus de ms
de 16 horas de agona, muri a las 6 de la tarde del 16 de agosto de 1945.53 La nota final
que escribi deca:53
Deseo expresar mi profundo aprecio a las almas de los valientes atacantes especiales. Ellos
lucharon y murieron valerosamente, con fe en nuestra victoria final. En la muerte, quiero purgar la
parte que me toca en el fracaso de no lograr esa victoria y pido disculpas a las almas de esos
aviadores muertos y sus acongojadas familias.
Deseo que la gente joven de Japn encuentre en mi muerte una moraleja. Ser temerarios solamente
favorecer al enemigo. Deben inclinarse con la mayor perseverancia ante el espritu de la decisin
del Emperador[...] Ustedes son el tesoro de la nacin. Con todo el fervor de espritu de los atacantes
especiales, luchen por el bienestar de Japn y por la paz en todo el mundo.
Renovadora
Despus de la violenta tormenta
Sube la luna radiante
Haiku de nishi para su amigo Rin Masutani.
Tipo de Barco
Portaaviones de escolta
Destructores
Hundidos
Importantes
14
USS Callaghan
Petrolero auxiliar
Remolcador
Cazasubmarinos
Lancha PT
Total
USS Sonoma56
49
Las prdidas humanas registradas del bando japons tanto de soldados como de civiles se contabilizan cerca de 110.000
personas, de los cuales ms de 2.500 fueron pilotos suicidas. La Dcima armada estadounidense contabiliz 40.000 bajas
junto con 9.700 bajas de la Flota estadounidense, las cuales fueron en su mayora debido a ataques tokktai.
57
Entrenamiento y tcticas[editar]
Entrenamiento[editar]
El programa que deban seguir los pilotos con base en Formosa es un buen ejemplo del
entrenamiento que reciban los pilotos tokktai, el cual se divida en breves y diversas
fases. En primer lugar, el adiestramiento de los nuevos pilotos tena una duracin de siete
das, dedicando las primeras dos jornadas nicamente al ejercicio de despegue. Este tipo
de ejercicio cubra el perodo que iba desde el momento en que se imparta la orden para
una misin hasta el momento en que los aparatos quedaban situados en formacin de
vuelo. Los dos das siguientes se dedicaban al vuelo en formacin, mientras proseguan
simultneamente las prcticas de despegue. Los ltimos tres das estaban dedicados, de
manera especial, al estudio terico y a los ejercicios prcticos de aproximacin al objetivo
y al ataque; entre tanto, continuaban tambin los ejercicios de despegue y de vuelo en
formacin. Si an haba tiempo, se repeta el proceso por segunda vez. 58
Tcticas de ataque[editar]
Para los cazas ligeros y rpidos, como los Zero (nombre en cdigo para los aliados Zeke),
y los bombarderos embarcados tipo Suisei (nombre en cdigo Judy) se adoptaron dos
mtodos de aproximacin con vista a los ataques especiales: 59 a la mxima o mnima
altura posible. Aunque desde el punto de vista de la exactitud de la navegacin y de la
buena visibilidad hubiera sido preferible una altura media, se prefera renunciar a estas
ventajas en consideracin a otros factores. En efecto, la altura preferida estaba
comprendida entre los 5.500 y 6.500 metros de altura y ello por varias razones:
El xito era mayor cuando exista un cielo con bajo techo de nubes.
El Mitsubishi A6M, conocido como Zero, fue el avin ms utilizado para los ataques suicidas.
Kamikaze
Article Highlights
For other uses of this term, see Kamikaze (disambiguation).
The USS Bunker Hill was attacked by two suicide planes in less than 30
seconds ahead of the May 11, 1945.
The term kamikaze ( ? Lit. 'divine wind') 1 2 Japanese origin, was
originally used by American translators to refer to suicide attacks by pilots
of a special unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy against vessels in the fleet of
the Allies at the end of the Second World War. These attacks intended to
stop the advance of the allies in the Pacific ocean and avoid they reached
the Japanese coast. To this end, aircraft loaded with 250 kg bombs impacted
their targets deliberately in an effort to sink or damage them so badly that
they could not return to the battle.
Although there were several suicide units on land, sea and air, this special
unit of attack is the most representative of its kind.
In Japan it is not used in this sense the word kamikaze. The term Shinpu
tokubetsu kgeki tai ( "Special Attack Unit Shinpu"?) Or its
abbreviation Tokkotai ( ?) Is preferred. In the rest of the world the use
of this word has spread and is applied loosely to all kinds of suicide attacks,
regardless of the method (use of explosives, cars, etc.) 3 or the nationality
of the attacker (as in the case of the attacks of September 11, 2001) .4
This special unit was disbanded when Japan submitted its unconditional
surrender in World War II and currently has numerous records and testimony
about the birth, growth and decline of its operations.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology and origin
1.1 Etymology
1.2 Origin
2 Background
2.1 Historical Context
The word kamikaze, although has its origin in the Japanese language, arises
from misreading the type kun'yomi by the American Translators during
World War Kanji (lit. 'god') and (lit . 'wind'), when the correct
pronunciation should be the type and pronounced on'yomi Shinpu ( ?).
The use of the word kamikaze spread outside Japan and was accepted
worldwide as valid, even within the same country, the pilots ran their
aircraft to deliberately crash into enemy ships were known by the name of
Shinpu tokubetsu kgeki tai ( "Special Attack Unit Shinpu"?)
or its abbreviation Tokkotai ( ?). 5
Since the end of the Second World War, the term has continued to apply to
various types of attacks, where the protagonist deliberately sacrificed (as in
the case of terrorist attacks), or as a metaphorical way in which the
individual has little or little chance Success with considerable risk.
Source [edit]
Main article: Mongol invasions of Japan
The origin of the myth kamikaze originates in the thirteenth century, when a
fleet from Mongolia, under the command of Kublai Khan, was presented
twice (the first in 1274 and second in 1281) 6 on Japanese coasts in order to
invade the country. Fortunately for people who were not prepared to fight
against a much better army prepared and face an invasion of large
proportions, a typhoon struck the invasion fleet during the attempted
invasion of 1281.7 This typhoon was called Divine Wind ( ?) And
considered as a sign that Japan was chosen by the gods and, therefore, they
take care of their seguridad8 and survival.9
Context [edit]
Historical Context [edit]
Main article: South-East Asian Theatre Of World War Ii
Japanese advance in the Pacific between 1937 and 1942. Red Allied
countries shown.
Japan experienced rapid growth after the Meiji government instituted, and
went from being an agrarian country to a power in Asia. The reforms taken
by the new government changed the way the country was run and focused
on technology development at the same time that created a strong and
modern army, which led to a strong militarization of the country. An
Several years ago, the Americans had pressed to Japan with embargoes and
provide support to its enemies as the country was seen as a threat in the
region. During the summer of 1941, the United States, the United Kingdom
and the Netherlands exerted an oil embargo to protest the presence of
Japanese troops occupying China.10 Japanese diplomats tried to convince
countries that the embargo was lifted, but due to the refusal, the emperor
gave the order to attack Pearl Harbor attack that took place on December 7
simultaneously with attacks on the Philippines and the British territories of
Malaya and Hong Kong.11 The next day, December 8, United States
declared war on Japn.12
The Japanese army continued to advance in the Pacific. In the six months
following the attack on Pearl Harbor they had achieved nearly all their
objectives and their naval fleet remained relatively intact. They had sunk or
damaged of important way all the battleships of the United States in the
Pacific. The British and Dutch fleets in the Far East had been destroyed, and
the Royal Australian Navy had been rejected towards its ports origen.13
The only major Allied strategic force, which remained opposed to all this,
was the naval base of Pearl Harbor, including three aircraft carriers of the
Pacific Fleet of the United States.14 The Japanese sent a fleet towards
Midway Islands, an atoll Peripheral of the Hawaiian archipelago, aiming to
attract the remnants of the American fleet to a decisive battle. On 5 June,
American bombers sighted the Japanese force and sank 4 of their better
aircraft carriers, a battleship and 275 aircraft during the Battle of Midway, at
a cost of one aircraft carrier, the Yorktown.15 This was a very important
victory for US and marked the turning point in the Pacific war. The American
capacity in the construction of ships and aircraft far exceeded the Japanese,
which never enjoy again such numerical superiority.
Sea, the Japanese lost over 400 planes and pilots. The oldest and best
prepared pilots became scarce.
Since 1942 different voices within the Japanese army rose with the
eagerness to resort to suicide tactics used in the war and try to reverse roles
again. Amid much controversy, one of the main protagonists and opponents
was Yokoi vice admiral, who exposed the reasons to oppose, beyond the
death of the pilots, were three mainly: 17
It was very expensive to train a pilot and his plane that he only made one
trip.
The aircraft alone would not have such an impact force to destroy or
severely damage an aircraft carrier, unless it slammed into the runway
when it had many enemy planes.
It was extremely difficult to analyze the results as the protagonist of the
action would be killed.
Suicidal special units finally implemented on the ground (as in the case of
"banzai charge") and at sea (as Shin'y boats). Finally in mid-1944, Prime
Minister Hideki Tojo instructed that the Corps of Air Raid organize a special
unit, 18 thus giving birth to what is commonly known as kamikazes.
The development of air protection in the US ships had reached such a level
that it was illusory to think that the Japanese aircraft could survive the
attack even if that was their intention. At the time of war, with all the
experience in boat attacks against aircraft, the tactics of the bombers was a
realistic and rational way to assume the limitation that the end pilot also
died. Thus, the kamikazes were the result of the intersection of a cultural
tradition of suicidal sacrifice tactics evident reality that planning retirement
after the attack was idle.
The fact is that many soldiers, sailors and pilots were determined to die, to
become Eirei, which means Guardian Spirits of the country [...] Many
Japanese felt to be consecrated to the Yasukuni Shrine was a special honor
as the emperor visited twice a year to pay tributo.19 The Yasakuni was the
only temple deified common men, 19 which the emperor visitaba.20
Japanese youth were indoctrinated from an early age with these ideals. In
addition to the Yasukuni shrine argument, they began to build a lot of war
memorials since 1905 after the Russo-Japanese War. It is noteworthy
construction near schools and not near templos.19 After the start of suicidal
tactics, newspapers and books distributed warnings, articles and stories
about these drivers in order to help in recruiting. In October 1944, the
Nippon Times quoted the commander Sekio Nishina:
The spirit of the Special Attack Unit is the great spirit that runs through the
blood of every Japanese [...] The action of crashing simultaneously kills the
enemy and the driver himself without error is called Special Attack [...] Each
Japanese is able to become a member of the Unit Especial.21 Attack
The "flag of the Rising Sun" was the naval ensign of Japan, which many
pilots behaved in his last trip.
Advertisers also promoted the idea that the suicide pilots were enshrined at
Yasukuni Shrine and distributed exaggerated stories of his bravery, even
distributing children's stories with the theme suicide pilots central.22
Before the start of each pilot on its final mission were held ceremonies in
which they were given the Japanese flag or the flag of the rising sun
(insignia of the Japanese naval fleet) with inspirational or spiritual
inscriptions, gun or katana and generally were offered a glass of sake or tea
before taking off. The pilots also wore a band with the rising sun and
senninbari or "thousand-stitch belt" woven by thousand women who made
one stitch each una.23 The pilots used to compose and recite a death poem
( ? Poem composed close death), who performed the samurai
tradition before committing seppuku. The drivers were prayers of his family
and military decorations were granted.
History [edit]
Birth of the Special Unit [edit]
Vice Admiral Onishi stressed that the only effective way to achieve this goal,
from his point of view, was to implement a panel formed suicide attack Zero
fighters loaded with 250 pumps kilogramos.26 The meeting continued until
early 20 October, which was formalized the formation of a panel. Inoguchi
commander proposed to name the special unit as Vice Admiral nishi
Shinp27 and ordered that the new Task Force Attack Shinpu were divided
into four groups: 28
Photography ceremony where the first attack Tokkotai Yukio Seki appear
getting a cup of water and Vice Admiral Takijir nishi (foreground, back).
From the morning of 20 October recognition rounds were held in order to
start the operation of the newly formed unit Shinpu, but due to bad weather
it was not possible to locate the location of the fleet estadounidense.29
By day 23, the submarines of the United States attacked the Advanced Fleet
Vice Admiral Kurita, sinking the flagship Atago and Maya, along with the
heavy cruiser Takao was severely damaged and knocked out without being
able to cope. 30
The next day the American fleet located and attacked the Second Fleet of
Kurita, where was sunk the battleship Musashi and knocked out the heavy
cruiser Myoko. The Shinpu unit was unable to provide help because of
intense fire antiareo.31
The first successful official mission of the Special Unit was finally carried out
in the course of the same day 25, when the Unit Shikishima located 50
kilometers northeast of the island of Suluan an American contingent.
Tokkotai five and four escorts arrived at the place and the first plane hit an
aircraft carrier, the same as the second, so the aircraft carrier sank. The
third driver struck another aircraft carrier and set it ablaze, the fourth driver
was white on a light cruiser sinking, while the fifth could not do contacto.33
34
The first comprising two Tokkotai and a bodyguard and the second of three
Tokkotai and two bodyguards: on October 26 the second attack, now with
the participation of the Yamato Unit, which consisted of two groups was
performed. Participation in the first group could not be confirmed because
the charge of delivering the report did not return to base, but it is known
that the second group struck an allied aircraft carrier with two pilots and
sank, while the third made impact with another , averindolo.35
After the tremendous blow that received the forces of Admiral Kurita and
Admiral Nishimura was clear that Operation Sho had failed, it had served as
a pretext to form the Shinpu tokubetsu kgeki tai ( "Special
Unit of Attack Shinpu"? ). However, such operations would continue from the
Philippines to January 1945, when Allied troops landed in the Philippines and
decided to instruct another base in Formosa.
Since the start of business on October 25, 1944, until his departure from the
Philippines in January 1945, this was the summary of the attacks:
Total 37 59 16 87
Total aircraft departure: 424
Special Operations Unit in Formosa [edit]
After leaving the Philippines due to the landing of US troops, another hub
where a new group of suicide pilots was established on January 18, 1945
under the name Niitaka in honor of a mountain site established on the island
of Formosa 38 Three days later, on January 21, his first attack was planned
divided into three sections: 39
Picture taken from the USS Washington when the USS Enterprise is hit by a
suicide attack on May 14, 1945.
Since early 1945 the Japanese leaders discussed how to stop the relentless
advance of the allies. After the fall of Iwo Jima invasion and hostilities on
Japanese soil was a matter of time. The Imperial General Headquarters had
expected Allied forces landed on Okinawa, making defensive preparations
were made from January 1945. With the enemy and treading country,
suicide operations not only increased, but joint attacks were coordinated
between air and naval fleet for the first time in the entire war. This type of
joint actions were known as Kikusui, 45 of which ten were conducted
between April 6 and 22 June 1945. In this series of attacks was where most
Allied ships were damaged or sunk.
The most representative of these missions was the one who was executed
on April 6, wherein the remaining ships of the once glorious Imperial Fleet,
under way in the so-called Operation Ten-Go joined the Fifth Air Fleet to deal
with the army deliberately enemy already installed on Okinawa. Around
noon the next day (April 7), 300 Allied aircraft attacked the remnants of the
Japanese fleet. To 15:00, the battleship Yamato, the light cruiser Yahagi and
Asashimo and destroyers were sunk Hamakaze due to the intense attack. In
addition, two other destroyers, the Isozake and Kasumi were put out of
action and sunk by the Japanese themselves without being able to make an
attack significativo.46 During this battle Japan lost six boats of only ten
whereupon it counted for this. Furthermore, at least 2,500 men lost vida.47
In the morning of that day Japanese troops were aware that Emperor
Hirohito would give a public report and it is anticipated that it was the
official announcement of the surrender of the country. However, the Fifth
Fleet Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki summoned eleven bombers to make the
last suicide attack against the enemy fleet. Four of these planes could not
take off, while the other seven were launched to attack. At 19:24 of August
15, 1945 the latter held 52 embestidas.51
Consequences [edit]
Suicide creator of the Special Unit of Attack [edit]
The same August 15, when the Emperor sent an official message to the
unconditional surrender of Japan, Vice Admiral nishi held some official
meetings at its headquarters. Late at night he decided to commit seppuku
ritual suicide and was found lying on the floor by base personnel at dawn.
While nishi made a clean cut in the abdominal area, he failed to cut the
throat and refused to receive medical aid as to receive the "Knockout" both.
After more than 16 hours of agony, died at 6 pm on August 16, 1945.53 The
final note that wrote said: 53
Total 49
The human losses of the Japanese side of both soldiers and civilians are
counted about 110,000 people, of whom more than 2,500 were suicide
pilots. The Tenth US Navy counted 40,000 casualties with 9,700 casualties of
the US Fleet, which were mostly due to attacks tokktai.57
Training and tactics [edit]
Training [edit]
Kamikaze
El nombre Kamikaze o Viento Divino, fue el nombre que los japoneses le dieron a los tifones que en 1273 y
1279 salvaron al Japn, dispersando la flota de invasin de Kublai Khan.
producto
que
el
Japn
militarista
requera.
El ataque Kamikaze
Al contrario de los ataques suicidas espontneos, el ataque Kamikaze fue una accin organizada, que en la
mayora de los casos, poda resultar en la muerte de los combatientes. Sin embargo, si el plan en el campo de
batalla no funcionaba, como se esperaba en teora, haba la posibilidad de que los combatientes sobrevivieran,
al menos en esa accin de armas. No era el fin morir por morir, sino morir hacindole el mayor dao posible al
enemigo.
Por qu los Kamikazes?
Debido a que estos ataques suicidas voluntarios, mostraron que los jvenes pilotos tenan el espritu de morir
antes de ser vencidos, en febrero de 1944 los oficiales de Estado Mayor del Ejrcito Imperial, comenzaron a
creer, que aunque la capacidad militar del Japn se haba reducido enormemente y estaban muy por debajo del
nivel de los estadounidenses, en nmero de aviones, buques, pilotos experimentados y soldados y en la
cantidad de recursos naturales (petrleo, por ejemplo), ellos s estaban por encima de los estadounidenses, en
el nmero de jvenes que preferan morir antes que ser vencidos. Organizando el "Tokkokay", los militares
pensaron que atacaran a los estadounidenses tambin psicolgicamente y que les haran perder el deseo de
continuar la guerra.
Quin invent el Kamikaze?
Se desconoce quin fue la primera persona que sugiri el ataque Kamikaze, aunque usualmente se cree que
fue el Almirante Takijiro Onishi. Sin embargo, aunque no fue l quien los haya sugerido o ideado, el Almirante
Onishi fue designado para organizar y comandar el primer Shinpu Tokubetsu Kogekitai.
Onishi organiza el Kamikaze
Comenta Mako Sasaki "En Octubre de 1944, los planes para la organizacin de los ataques suicidas se
hicieron realidad. Habiendo recibido permiso del Ministerio de Marina, el Almirante Onishi entr a la Base Area
Clark, preparado para comandar los primeros ataques suicidas organizados. Onishi no pens que los ataques
suicidas organizados fueran una tctica eficiente, sino que ellos seran una poderosa tctica de batalla, y crey
que sera la mejor y ms hermosa forma de morir para un piloto. Onishi dijo una vez:"
"si ellos (los jvenes pilotos) estn en tierra, sern bombardeados, y si estn en el aire, sern derribados. Esto
es triste... Muy triste... Lo que el Tokko hace, es permitir que los jvenes mueran hermosamente. Brindarles una
muerte hermosa, es lo que se llama conmiseracin."
En 1944, la flor y nata de lo que fue la segunda fuerza area del mundo, en 1939, haba sido diezmada. Los
equipos estaban obsoletos, haban pocos suministros y recursos para hacerlos funcionar. Por tanto, en vista de
esa situacin, la reflexin del Almirante Onishi tiene sentido. Los pilotos no tenan experiencia de combate, los
ataques areos ocurran en todo Japn, especialmente en las ciudades. Pilotos con entrenamiento terico y
aviones obsoletos, eran enviados al combate contra veteranos mejor equipados y en mayor nmero. El tiempo
de entrenamiento fue reducido al mnimo, o menos de lo que era necesario para entrenar un piloto con el objeto
de completar los cuadros. Para el momento en que comenzaron los ataques suicidas, los pilotos slo tenan la
habilidad para volar, ms no para combatir. Morir en un ataque suicida, bajo ningn concepto, en nada se
aproxima al ideal de belleza, an realizado en honor del Emperador, y por su pas, aunque en ese tiempo era
una actitud considerada honorable.
Slo voluntarios
Una cosa decidida por el Estado Mayor del Ejrcito, fue que los ataques Kamikaze deban ser hechos bajo la
sola decisin de los propios pilotos. Era una accin que estaba muy por encima de una "orden" y que
corresponda nica y exclusivamente a la voluntad personal.
Preparacin del primer ataque
El primer ataque suicida organizado se prepar el 21 de Octubre de 1944, por el escuadrn llamado Shinpu
Tokubetsu Kogekitai, nombre que fue usado generalmente en el Ejrcito Imperial y la Marina para designar los
ataques suicidas organizados. Para el pblico fueron conocidos con la forma abreviada Tokkotai para referirse a
esos tipos de ataques suicidas. Shinpu es lo que se conoce mejor como Kamikaze.
Primer
Comandante
Kamikaze
El comandante del primer ataque fue el Capitn Yukio Seki. De acuerdo al sub comandante Tamai de la Primera
Flota Area, que llev la cuestin al Capitn Seki, l le respondi inmediatamente:
"Comprendo. Por favor permtame hacerlo."
Seki estaba reemplazando a otro compaero que se encontraba fuera de la base area. Este hecho fue
divulgado slo 14 aos despus de la guerra en el libro Viento Divino del Capitn Rikihei Inoguchi quien
nombr la primera unidad Shimpu por lo que no es posible pensar que pueda haber habido una falla de
memoria.
Primer buque atacado
Cuando la flota de Kurita se acercaba al Golfo de Leyte, el Vicealmirante Ohnishi supo que haba llegado el
momento para iniciar los ataques Kamikaze.
El 25 de Octubre de 1944, Se prepararon 26 aviones caza de los cuales la mitad eran escoltas y la otra mitad
Kamikazes. Esa mitad fue distribuida en las escuadrillas Shikishima, Yamato, Asahi y Yamazakura.
Dirigindose a la Batalla de Samos, el Capitn Seki lider el primer ataque Kamikaze sobre el portaaviones USS
St. L.
La juventud Kamikaze
De acuerdo a las investigaciones de Mako Sasaki, el ms joven de los pilotos Kamikaze del Ejrcito Imperial
tuvo 17 aos y el ms viejo 35. La mayora de ellos tenan entre 17 y 25 aos. A medida que la Batalla de
Okinawa (abril a junio de 1945) se pona peor para los japoneses, la edad de los pilotos disminua. Algunos slo
haban completado el equivalente a la educacin elemental y la media combinadas. Algunos tenan estudios
superiores. Haba una tendencia entre ellos, de no ser los hijos mayores de una familia, quienes generalmente
solan tomar las riendas del sustento familiar. Por tanto, la mayora eran los hijos menores, que no tenan que
preocuparse por la subsistencia de la familia.
La mayora de aquellos que procedan de escuelas superiores, fueron lo que se llam Gakuto Shutsujin. Esos
jvenes fueron enrolados cuando la dispensa de estudiantes al servicio militar fue levantada, y a su vez, la
graduacin de los antiguos fue cambiada de abril de 1944, a septiembre de 1943.
Muchos de los estudiantes Kamikaze procedan de prestigiosas Universidades como la de Tokio, Kyoto, Keio y
Waseda. Estos estudiantes superiores tenan tendencia a tener ideas ms liberales, al no haber sido educados
en escuelas militares, y tambin estaban ms al tanto del mundo fuera del Japn.
Los Centros de Entrenamiento
Todos los pilotos involucrados en el "Okinawa Tokko" fueron entrenados en o como uno de los siguientes
centros: Escuela de Entrenamiento de Pilotos Jvenes, Candidatos para Segundo Teniente, Academia del
Cuerpo Areo del Ejrcito Imperial, Pilotos Reclutados, Candidatos a Oficiales de Vuelo, Cadete en Prueba para
Oficial de Vuelo Especial, Escuela de Entrenamiento de Pilotos o Candidato a Oficial de Vuelo Especial.
Seleccin de Voluntarios
Hubo dos mtodos para conseguir voluntarios, uno era para todos los pilotos en general y otro solamente para
los Cadetes Probatorios para Oficiales de Vuelos Especiales (graduados universitarios). El primero era una
forma con una solicitud y el segundo era una forma con una encuesta.
La encuesta
"Desea usted solemnemente - Desea - No desea, involucrarse en los ataques Kamikaze?
Deba encerrarse en un crculo una de las tres opciones o dejar el papel en blanco. El hecho importante es que
los pilotos deban firmar la forma con su nombre, lo que haca que existiera una velada coaccin.
Cuando los militares tenan el poder absoluto, y la atmsfera en Japn era tal, que la gente esperaba que los
hombres murieran por su pas, exista una gran presin psicolgica para marcar "Desea usted solemnemente" o
simplemente "Desea."
El ejrcito seleccionaba a aquellos que marcaban "Desea usted solemnemente". La razn por la cual el Oficial
de Cadetes Probatorios para Oficiales de Vuelos Especiales deba responder ese cuestionario, en vez de enviar
sus solicitudes personalmente, debi ocurrir porque los cadetes con formacin universitaria tenan una visin
ms amplia de la vida, y por tanto no estaran muy inclinados a solicitar esas misiones fcilmente.
La solicitud
Para la solicitud general, el ejrcito tena la conviccin de que habra muchos jvenes pilotos que s la
solicitaran. Estaban en lo cierto. Cada uno de los estudiantes de la 15 Promocin de la Escuela de
Entrenamiento de Jvenes Pilotos, lo solicitaron.
Debido al gran nmero de voluntarios, los militares
decidieron, ante la urgencia de lograr pronto los mejores resultados, que los que tenan mejor preparacin
fueran seleccionados primero.
Las razones personales
Hay varios factores que hicieron que los jvenes pilotos se presentaran voluntarios para esas misiones. Con
toda seguridad, el patriotismo extremo fue uno de ellos. A eso se aade que haba una reverencia divina hacia
el Emperador. Algunos dicen, que generalmente se crea que si uno mora por el emperador y era merecedor de
ser honrado en la Santuario Yasukumi, seran felices para siempre.
El efecto del refuerzo psicolgico que la poltica militarista hizo en los estudiantes es sorprendente. Los pilotos
sentan que era "obvio" que ellos deban tomar parte en los ataques Kamikaze. La mayora de los pilotos
mencionan en sus cartas que ellos estaban felices y orgullosos por haberles sido permitido participar en tan
honorables misiones. Es cierto tambin, que ellos crean que si tomaban parte en la misin, la situacin de la
guerra mejorara para el Japn.
La educacin militar
Dice Mako Sasaki "Lo que era la educacin militar ha sido descrita en el diario que mantena el Cabo Yukio
Araki, desde el momento en que entr a la Escuela de Entrenamientos de Jvenes Pilotos, hasta la noche antes
de su partida para Okinawa."
"Como todo lo que escriban era revisado por el Kempeitai, no poda manifestarse nada que pudiera molestar a
los militares o contradecir las ideas del Gobierno Japons. Sin embargo y lo ms importante, debido a la falta
de privacidad, no podan escribirse emociones personales. Por tanto, en el diario del Cabo Araki, raramente se
puede encontrar algo "personal". Los primeros das en la Escuela de Entrenamiento, l simplemente enumera
los temas que fueron estudiados ese da y lo que se hizo en el entrenamiento fsico. Ms tarde menciona lo que
se hizo en el entrenamiento de vuelo, los eventos que ocurrieron y otras cosas realizadas. Sin embargo, la
mayor parte de lo que escribi, fue sobre las "advertencias", ms bien amonestaciones, que recibi. "
"Uno de los temas mencionados en el diario era un curso llamado Lectura Moral Espiritual, que se menciona
casi un da s y otro no. Lo que exactamente se enseaba en ese curso no es mencionado. Sin embargo,
parece que en uno de esos cursos, se mencionaban grandes figuras militares que murieron por la patria. Es
seguro que ese curso era un factor que haca que los pilotos se sintieran "felices y orgullosos" de verse
involucrados en los ataques Kamikaze."
"La educacin militar era rpidamente absorbida por esos jvenes prospectos de piloto. Fue en Octubre de
1943, que el joven piloto haba ingresado a la Escuela de Entrenamiento; para febrero siguiente ya haba escrito
un corto poema diciendo que un hombre japons debiera sentirse meritorio cuando mora, como deba, por su
Emperador."
"La cantidad de tiempo que los estudiantes empleaban en la Escuela de Entrenamiento de Jvenes Pilotos fue
reducida de tres aos a menos de dos, para los estudiantes de la 15 Promocin, por tanto, el plan de estudios
era duro y rgido. Casi no haban feriados y muchos de los asuetos que se planificaban eran cancelados. Lo
que el Cabo Araki llamaba "feriado", era muy diferente a lo que normalmente se conoce como feriado. Un
ejemplo de ese "feriado" comenzaba con una suerte de ceremonia, seguida por el aprendizaje de canciones
(probablemente marciales) y viendo alguna pelcula. Hasta en los llamados "feriados" se enseaba algo
relacionado con lo militar. Por tanto, no tenan tiempo para "pensar". Casi cada minuto, que estuvieran
despiertos, haba siempre algo que hacer y eran enseados lo que era tener un correcto espritu. Al no darles
tiempo para pensar, no tenan tiempo para evaluar lo que les haban enseado. Simplemente lo absorban, y
como resultado, para el momento que ellos se graduaban, ya estaban totalmente condicionados."
Los sentimientos hacia la familia
El Cabo Araki, tena un hermano mayor y tres hermanos menores. En su testamento a sus padres, menciona
que l hubiera querido que dos de sus menores hermanos tambin entraran al servicio militar; uno deba entrar
en la marina para convertirse en oficial, el otro en el ejrcito para tambin ser oficial. l menciona tambin que
desea que sus hermanos sigan su camino, involucrndose en los ataques Kamikaze.
El seor S. Araki, hermano mayor del Cabo Araki, menciona que su hermano cambi mucho despus de entrar
en la escuela militar. l recuerda que la actitud de su hermano hacia l, no era la corriente, y no era la forma
como se le habla a un hermano. l sinti que su hermano realmente haba madurado, tanto fsica como
psicolgicamente, desde la ltima vez que lo vio.
Sus propios pensamientos
Hay tres referencias en que se encuentran los pensamientos del Cabo Araki sobre la misin: su testamento, las
ltimas cartas y su diario. En el testamento a sus padres y su hermano, l menciona que no tiene sentimientos
nostlgicos. En el testamento dirigido a su hermano, menciona que le gustara que l pensara de la misin
como piadosa. En una postal enviada el da de la misin, l llama a la misin, "una misin honorable," y que
espera verlo nuevamente en el Santuario Yasukuni.
Fue a finales de Marzo de 1945, que tuvo lugar la misin de la unidad del Cabo Araki. Desde ese momento el
Cabo Araki no escribi ms en su diario. Despus de una anotacin el 16 de Marzo, no hubo ms apuntes por
dos meses. l escribi que debido a estar ocupado, no tena tiempo de escribir. Podr eso ser posible? se
pregunta Mako Sasaki En realidad su escuadrn estuvo con una agenda apretada en Marzo. Desde el 25
ellos regresaron de Pyongyang (Corea) a la prefectura de Gifu. Sin embargo, el Sargento Kazuo Arai tuvo
tiempo de mantener su diario durante ese tiempo. Puede haber sido que por fuertes emociones personales que
el Cabo Araki no pudo mantener el diario. O puede haber sido, que ya no le importaba ms tener que escribirlo.
De cualquier forma, el hecho de que no haya hecho ninguna anotacin el da que se orden oficialmente la
ejecucin de la misin, cuando el antes haba anotado otros eventos especiales, revela que ya no tena el
estado de nimo que tuvo antes.
La fecha planeada para la misin del 72 Escuadrn Shinbu (que era el escuadrn al que perteneca el Cabo
Araki) fue inicialmente el 21 de Mayo de 1945. Sin embargo, debido al clima lluvioso, fue pospuesto al 27 de
mayo de 1945. En su ltima anotacin el 20 de Mayo de 1945, l escribi:
"...a las xx en punto recib la agradecida orden de partir maana. Estoy profundamente emocionado, y slo
espero hundir uno (un acorazado estadounidense). Ya nos han visitado cientos de compaeros, cantando
jubilosamente las canciones de despedida."
Y ah termina. Sin embargo, su escritura es muy estable y no era como si estuviera perdiendo el control. Si por
alguna razn, l hubiera tenido que dejar el diario momentneamente, por qu no regres a continuarlo?
Fue que l se emocion en extremo y no pudo continuar escribiendo? Como haya sido, l nunca regres a su
diario.
Las cartas
Se encuentran dos tipos de cartas, al leer las ltimas escritas por los pilotos Kamikaze, unas son las "Tpicas" y
las otras las "nicas". La mayora de las cartas "tpicas" fueron escritas por los graduados de las escuelas
militares tales como la Escuela de Entrenamiento de Pilotos Jvenes. Las "nicas" fueron escritas por los
Cadetes Probatorios de Oficiales de Vuelos Especiales graduados universitarios. Las dos primeras de las
siguientes cinco cartas han sido cartas "tpicas", y las otras tres, cartas "nicas".
Cabo Masato Hisanaga
El Cabo Masato Hisanaga del 72 Escuadrn Shinbu tena 20 aos de edad. En su carta agradece a sus padres
por los aos de vida y les report cmo lo hubo estado haciendo y les manifest lo bondadosos que ellos han
sido con l. Al pedirle a sus padres que les digan "hola" a varias personas, les dice que el se vengar por sus
hermanos (quienes, parece, que deben haber sido muertos en combate) hundiendo los acorazados enemigos y
matando a sus marineros. El tambin pide que sus hermanos jvenes sigan a su hermano, es decir, a l mismo.
"Toda la poblacin (japonesa) es el tokkotai". Tambin mencion: "No tengo sentimientos nostlgicos."
Cabo Shinji Ozeki
El Cabo Shinji Ozeki, de 19 aos, escribi sus deseos a su madre diciendo:
"Como hombre, ir con valenta. Ahora no tengo sentimientos nostlgicos.
aunque haya nacido hombre, no haya tenido piedad filial."
"Creo que es piedad, drsela a este joven ayuda para la proteccin de la nacin imperial."
"Espero que perdonarn mi pecado por haber incumplido (con ustedes) y que ustedes vivirn felices."
Dice Mako Sasaki, "Esto es muy parecido a lo que el Cabo Araki e Hisanaga han mencionado. Todo revela sus
pensamientos hacia sus padres. Ellos pensaron que su muerte fue piadosa, lo que muestra que ellos lo hicieron
por su familia. Todos mencionaron no haber tenido sentimientos nostlgicos posiblemente para hacer que sus
padres se sintieran mejor. Como estas son cartas "Tpicas" muchos otros han escrito de la misma forma."
Teniente Shigeyuki Suszuki
Las cartas nicas escritas por los graduados universitarios incluyen ms sentimientos personales. Por ejemplo,
el Segundo Teniente Shigeyuki Suszuki, escribi:
"La gente dice que nuestros sentimientos son de resignacin, pero eso no refleja de ninguna manera cmo nos
sentimos y piensan como si nosotros furamos el pescado que va ha ser cocinado."
"Sangre joven fluye en nosotros."
"Hay personas que amamos, en quienes pensamos y muchas memorias inolvidables. Sin embargo, con eso no
podemos ganar la guerra."
"Para permitir que este lindo Japn siga creciendo, para ser librado de las manos malignas de los
estadounidenses y britnicos, y para construir un Asia libre es nuestra meta antes que termine el ao de Gakuto
Chutsujin; an nada ha cambiado."
"El gran da en que nosotros estemos en contacto directo con la batalla ser nuestro da de felicidad y al mismo
tiempo, la conmemoracin de nuestra muerte..."
Segundo Teniente Ryoji Uehara
El Segundo Teniente Ryoji Uehara, un graduado de la Universidad de Keio, tena 22 aos. Sus ideas fueron
"radicales" para su poca, y si hubieran sido conocidas por el Kempei Tai, no lo hubieran dejado tranquilo. En
una nota, escribi a un periodista, poco antes de su misin que l haba sido muy honrado el haber sido
escogido como piloto Kamikaze. Tambin escribi, pensando lgicamente con las destrezas adquiridas en la
universidad. l crea en la democracia. l crea que la victoria de la democracia era obvia y aunque el
fascismo haba hecho que se creyera que el pas pareciera temporalmente prspero, slo le esperaba la
declinacin. l mencion el hecho de que la Italia Fascista y la Alemania Nazi han sido vencidas, y que el
poder de la "libertad" aparecera en la historia. l dice que si sus ideas son las correctas, ser una tragedia
para la nacin pero que l estar feliz. Al final de la nota escribi:
"Maana, un creyente de la democracia dejar este mundo. Parecer solitario, pero su corazn est lleno de
satisfaccin."
Dice Mako Sasaki, "El Segundo Teniente Uehara no crey que el ira a la Cripta Yasukuni, pero que ira al cielo
donde podra encontrarse con su hermano y la chica que am, quienes haban muerto antes."
Toshio Anazawa
El Segundo Teniente Toshio Anazawa estaba comprometido. Pero habiendo sido escogido para la misin, eso
(el compromiso) deba ser cancelado. Escribi, en su ltima carta, el eterno agradecimiento que sinti por ella y
su familia. Le dice a ella que l no desea que ella haga reflexiones del tiempo que pasaron juntos. Escribi:
Como un hombre comprometido, como un hombre que tiene que ir, tengo que decirte muy poco a ti, una dama,
antes de irme.
Yo slo quiero tu felicidad.
Que no te importe el pasado. No debes vivir en el pasado.
Ten la valenta y olvida el pasado. T tienes que crear un nuevo futuro.
Debes vivir, de momento en momento, en la realidad.
Contina Mako Sasaki"A diferencia de las dos primeras cartas, que contienen las palabras "no tengo
emociones nostlgicas," l escribi: "Es muy tarde ahora, pero quiero decir algunos de mis deseos."
Entonces, hizo una lista de los libros que hubiera querido leer, lo que hubiera querido ver, lo que hubiera querido
escuchar y que estaba ansioso por verla y escucharla.
Los tres ltimos escritos probablemente hablan por s mismos y no requieren de explicacin. Ellos simplemente
clarifican las diferentes maneras de pensar que los estudiantes universitarios tenan contra los que pertenecan
a las escuelas militares.
Siempre se notaban las emociones
No slo en manuscritos aparecieron los pensamientos de los pilotos. En acciones y conversaciones estuvieron
presentes sus emociones, de acuerdo al Sr. Yasuo Takahashi, su hermano mayor, el Cabo Mineyoshi Takahashi,
cambi desde que ingres a la escuela militar y su actitud al hablar con el Sr. Takahashi no era como l sola
ser. (La forma como el Sr. Takahashi, explic que eran esas diferencias, antes y despus que Mineyoshi se
uniera a la milicia, fue similar a las diferencias encontradas por el Seor. S. Araraki en Yukio.) l recuerda que
la ltima vez que se encontr con l lo llev al barco donde trabajaba. Repentinamente le pregunt "Qu
parte del barco es la ms vulnerable?" El Sr. Takahashi recuerda que qued extremadamente sorprendido,
pero apunt al lugar que l pensaba que era el punto ms dbil.
Esto revela que el Cabo Takahashi pensaba en su misin con cierta calma. l hizo la pregunta probablemente
pensando en qu lugar de un barco deba estrellar su avin.
Cabo Takamasa Senda
dice Mako Sasaki "Antes de su partida, el Cabo Takamasa Senda estuvo cantando muchas canciones con
nios y a veces se sentaba a quemar viejas cartas, solo y muy quieto, con una expresin de profunda
meditacin. La ltima noche l mir hacia las estrellas y le dijo a su hermano: "Eres afortunado, esta ser la
ltima vez que yo pueda ver las estrellas... Me pregunto cmo estar mi mam..." El cantar con los nios era
probablemente para olvidar la misin que vena, y el quemar las cartas era para olvidar el pasado. Lo que dijo
sobre las estrellas indicaba que l deseaba vivir."
Teniente Fumishiro Mitsuyama
Aunque el patriotismo fue la respuesta a la forma como ellos se sentan, puede dudarse en el caso del Segundo
Teniente Fumishiro Mitsuyama. Su nombre real fue Tak Kyong-Hyong. l fue coreano, pero al igual que otros
japoneses, l tambin fue enviado a la guerra, y fue escogido como piloto Kamikaze. La ltima noche antes de
su misin, l fue a la cafetera frecuentada por personal del ejrcito, que era administrada por la Sra. Tome
Torihama, llamada "Okasan" (mam) por los jvenes pilotos Kamikaze de la Base Area Chiran. l fue donde
ella y le dijo, "Te cantar una cancin de mi tierra", y cant Ariran. En la segunda estrofa, sus ojos estaban
llenos de lgrimas. Debido a que l era un graduado universitario, l no se ofreci voluntariamente sino que
probablemente se vio presionado a encerrar en un crculo "Desea usted solemnemente" en la encuesta,
especialmente por ser coreano.
Un superviviente
Comenta Mako Sasaki "De acuerdo con los supervivientes, todos dicen que se sintieron normales y en
completa calma. No estaban asustados por la muerte pero se sintieron felices que finalmente llegara el da. El
Sr. Itatsu fue un piloto que parti para la misin pero sobrevivi porque su avin cay al mar, debido a que el
motor fall. El recuerda haber estado feliz cuando fue escogido para la misin. l dice que los jvenes de
entonces, que fueron a las escuelas militares, no tenan la habilidad para pensar lgicamente, y que por tanto
enviaban las solicitudes sin meditarlo mucho. El tambin dijo, que esos pilotos eran realmente inocentes y que
pensaron puramente, que deban ser capaces de servir y proteger a la patria. Un autor y crtico, Tadao
Morimoto, dijo en un programa de TV que l cree que no era verdad que fueran felices de morir por su pas. El
Sr. Itatsu dice que no est de acuerdo con l, porque algunos pilotos jvenes e inocentes murieron creyendo
que seran felices de morir as. Como el Sr. Itatsu fue uno de los pilotos Kamikaze, sus comentarios deben
tener mayor credibilidad que los hechos por el Sr. Tadao Morimoto, que fue un oficial de la marina durante la
guerra, pero que personalmente no estuvo relacionado con los ataques Kamikaze."
Kiichi Matsuura
Contina Mako Sasaki "Kiichi Matsuura, el autor del libro Showa wa Toku (Showa a lo lejos) escribi que l
recuerda que la primera fecha planeada para la misin fue como cualquier otro da, y no hubo ningn tipo
especial de conversacin. Cuando l sinti que el avin no funcionaba correctamente, sbitamente sinti la
urgencia de vivir. El hecho de que el avin no funcionara implicaba que no deba morir. Dndose cuanta de
ello, slo pudo pensar en vivir. En su segunda "chance" el avin estuvo bien medio camino. l estaba con
otros dos pilotos y al ver que uno de ellos caa al mar, se dio cuenta que haba problemas en todas sus
mquinas. Los dos regresaron. l recuerda que hasta el momento que decidieron regresar, no senta miedo,
porque estaba viajando hacia la muerte. Sin embargo el regreso fue escalofriante. Deban proteger su vida de
la muerte que poda aparecer en cualquier instante."
Finalmente, en una entrevista con un miembro de la Fuerza de Auto Defensa, el Sr. Matsunaga, se mencion
una palabra que fue la clave para mejor entender lo que ocurri. La palabra fue "decisin." A la pregunta "Si
algo pasaba, no hubiera estado usted atemorizado? El respondi que fue su decisin entrar en ese mundo y
que no hubiera escapado de no haber ocurrido algo. De igual manera, aunque fuera ms por presin
psicolgica, todos los pilotos Kamikaze tomaron su decisin.
Sueos de Juventud
Dice Mako Sasaki "De hecho, los pilotos no fueron ni radicales ni extremadamente patriotas, sino que fueron
el tpico japons de la poca. Seguir una carrera sirviendo en el ejrcito, especialmente en la Fuerza Area, fue
el sueo de los de los jvenes de finales del perodo Taisho y del comienzos del Showa. No todos los pilotos
que queran convertirse en Kamikazes podan lograrlo. Aunque esto pueda parecer extrao, hubo tantos
voluntarios para hacer el suicida y fatal ataque que, los jefes militares, para actuar equitativamente, tuvieron que
dejar que los que tenan mejores notas fueran ms temprano. Debido al aura que cubri al Japn, los jvenes
de 18 y 19 aos estaban ansiosos por ir. Aquellos Cadetes Probatorios para Oficiales de Vuelos Especiales,
que tenan sus propios pensamientos, como el Segundo Teniente Suzuki, Uehara y Anazawa, fueron capaces de
separar sus vidas personales de los que para ellos era necesario hacer por la guerra. Ellos sintieron la
responsabilidad de tener que ir."
Sus sentimientos ms profundos
dice Mako Sasaki "Cmo se sintieron exactamente los pilotos acerca de los ataques no puede saberse, pero
parece que ellos estuvieron en general, felices por poder servir a su pas, pero tenan otros pensamientos
relacionados con la muerte. Debido a que el refuerzo de los sentimientos patriticos causados por los mtodos
educativos de los pilotos entrenados en escuelas militares, fue tan efectivo, cambi la prioridad de "la vida,
despus la patria" y no al revs. La vida fue hecha de acuerdo a la atmsfera y a la educacin de esos
tiempos. Si ellos creyeron que la felicidad, para siempre, seguira a su misin, ellos no tenan nada que temer.
Aquellos que no recibieron el reforzamiento doctrinario (los estudiantes universitarios) pueden haber sentido
temor. Si ellos fueron capaces de sentir un desprendimiento total por la vida, pueden haberse sentido mejor.
Pero, es realmente posible sentirse desprendido por la vida?"
Concluye Mako Sasaki "De cualquier forma, parece que todos sentan optimismo. Ellos fueron voluntarios,
creyendo que sus vidas salvaran a sus familiares, a quienes ellos queran y al Japn. Sin embargo como una
estudiante investigando cincuenta aos despus de los hechos, no fue posible, para m, comprender
exactamente como se debieron sentir en cuanto a su propia misin. "
Kamikaze
The name or Divine Wind Kamikaze, was the name that gave the Japanese
typhoons in 1273 and 1279 saved the Japan, dispersing the invasion fleet of
Kublai Khan.
Kamikaze pilots
Who were Kamikazes?
During World War II, trained pilots who carried out suicide missions,
organized into squads were used. These pilots were known as Kamikaze
Shimpu or acted in an organized way and with a rigid training specially
established for that purpose.
The misconception that the Kamikaze pilots were fanatics, who in a fit of
madness were chosen or volunteers had to commit suicide, taking out any
enemy they could, is a falsehood that has no basis.
These were young men of the time who acted voluntarily, most feeling his
death in such missions would improve the situation of war for his country.
They did not act irrationally and suddenly, but presented aware of what they
were doing and getting a thorough workout that lasted many months.
Mako Sasaki says - "The death of Emperor Taisho can be the starting point
for Japan started to become a fascist state that was during World War II
Although the military were active from the Jiji period (1867-1912),. in the
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905),
they became extremely active when the Crown Prince Hirohito became the
Emperor Showa. The coups were frequent, and various political figures were
killed during that period. In the reign of Emperor Hirohito Showa, militarism
peaked at the ends and the military became the true authority of the
Empire. "
"According to those who lived during the early Showa period (1926-1945),
the presence of Emperor Showa was like a god and was more a religious
than a political figure. That divine figure of the Emperor was used by the
United States, during the occupation from 1945 to rebuild the country. In
many haiuku who wrote the Kamikaze pilots, the Emperor is mentioned in
the first line. "
Militarism took the Japanese tradition, which saw the figure of a god
emperor, to reinforce to the State, which was under the absolute control of
the military high command. In this regard, it was organized and
systematized education for youth the Samurai 20th century, capable of
giving their lives for their country and their Emperor. By the end of 1944 the
Jusshi reisho, for children and young Japanese, meaning "sacrifice life" was
the supreme goal of his life.
All were volunteers. Most of them were born in the late Taisho period (19121926) or in the first two or three years of the Showa. Therefore, all received
State control
Censorship restricted the life of the Japanese people. The letters, diaries and
photographs of the soldiers were all censored. It was forbidden to
communicate by any means where they were or what they were doing, at
any time, regarding their military activities.
Greater restrictions were imposed on the press, radio and other means of
communication. The public could not be informed of losses or damage
caused by the enemy on the Japanese side. They could be disclosed only
successes, victories and damage caused to the enemy.
Japanese honor
Very few people on earth have professed both honor and the Japanese.
Since the days of feudalism, especially in the Tokugawa period, a warrior
should profess the Bushido. This Code of Honor, and the culture he
considered suicide and the death of young people as a symbol of beauty,
which exceeded the limit of the human, were factors that contributed to
mass suicides and disregard for his own life when the honor was involved.
Proof of this is not only the kamikaze spirit but seppuku or suicide for
reasons of honor, through the Harakiri.
Suicide attacks began from the very day of the attack on Pearl Harbor was
performed. This attack was an impulsive decision in the heat of battle, but in
much smaller scale, occurred in many wars and undertaken by many
Because these suicide attacks volunteers showed that young drivers had the
spirit of dying before being defeated in February 1944 the staff officers of
the Imperial Army, began to believe that although Japan's military capacity
had been reduced enormously and were well below the level of the US, the
number of aircraft, ships, experienced pilots and soldiers and quantity of
natural resources (oil, for example), they themselves were above the US in
the number of young people who would rather die than be defeated.
Organizing the "Tokkokay" the military thought that would attack Americans
also psychologically and that would cause them to lose the desire to
continue the war.
It is unknown who was the first person who suggested the Kamikaze attack,
though it is usually believed to be the Admiral Takijiro Onishi. However,
although it was not he who has suggested or devised, Admiral Onishi was
appointed to organize and command the first Shinpu Tokubetsu Kogekitai.
Mako Sasaki says - "In October 1944, plans for organizing suicide attacks
were realized Having received permission from the Ministry of the Navy,
Admiral Onishi went to Clark Air Base, ready to command the first organized
suicide attacks.. Onishi not think that suicide attacks were organized
efficient tactic, but they would be a powerful tactic battle, and thought it
would be the best and most beautiful way to die for a pilot Onishi once said.
"
"If they (young drivers) are on the ground, will be bombed, and if they are in
the air, will be demolished. This is sad ... very sad ... What the Tokko ago, is
to allow young people die beautifully. providing a beautiful death, it is what
is called sympathy. "
In 1944, the cream of what was the second air force in the world in 1939,
had been decimated. The teams were obsolete, there were few supplies and
resources to make them work. Therefore, in view of this situation, reflection
of Admiral Onishi sense. The pilots had no combat experience, air strikes
occurred throughout Japan, especially in the cities. Theoretical training pilots
and obsolete aircraft were sent to fight against better equipped and more
seasoned. Training time was minimized, or less than what was necessary to
train a pilot in order to complete the pictures. By the time they started
suicide attacks, the pilots had only the ability to fly, but not to fight. Die in a
suicide attack, under any circumstances, nothing approaches the ideal of
beauty, still held in honor of the Emperor, and for his country, although at
that time was considered an honorable attitude.
Only volunteers
One thing decided by the Staff of the Army, was that Kamikaze attacks were
to be made at the sole decision of the pilots. It was an action that was well
above an "order" and that it was solely a personal will.
The first suicide attack was prepared organized the October 21, 1944, the
squadron called Tokubetsu Shinpu Kogekitai, name that was generally used
in the Imperial Army and Navy to designate organized suicide attacks. For
the audience they were familiar with Tokkotai shorthand to refer to these
types of suicide attacks. Shinpu is what is better known as Kamikaze.
The commander of the first attack was Captain Yukio Seki. According to
Tamai sub commander of the First Air Fleet, which brought the matter to the
Captain Seki, he replied immediately:
Seki was replacing another fellow who was out of the air base. This fact was
disclosed only 14 years after the war in the book Divine Wind Rikihei
Captain Inoguchi, who appointed the first Shimpu- unit so it is not possible
to think that may have been a failure of memory.
When Kurita fleet approached the Gulf of Leyte, Vice Admiral Ohnishi knew it
was time to start the Kamikaze attacks.
The October 25, 1944, 26 fighter aircraft of which half were guards and half
Kamikazes were prepared. That half was distributed in Shikishima, Yamato,
Asahi and Yamazakura squadrons. Addressing the Battle of Samos, Captain
Seki led the first Kamikaze attack on the USS St. Lo.
Most of those who came from colleges, were what was called Gakuto
Shutsujin. These young people were enrolled as students exemption from
military service was lifted, and in turn, the old graduation was changed from
April 1944 to September 1943.
Training Centers
All drivers involved in the "Okinawa Tokko" were trained in or one of the
following schools: School Pilot Training Youth Candidates for Second
Lieutenant, Academy Air Corps Imperial Army recruited pilots, Officer
Candidate Flight, Test to Officer Cadet Special Flight, Pilot Training School or
Officer Candidate Special Flight.
Volunteer selection
There were two ways to get volunteers, one was for all pilots in general and
another only for probationary Officer Cadet Special Flights (college
graduates). The first was a form with a request and the second was a form
with a survey.
The poll
"Do you solemnly want - want - do not want to get involved in Kamikaze
attacks?
It must be enclosed in a circle one of the three options or leave blank paper.
The important fact is that the pilots had to sign the form with your name,
making a veiled coercion existed.
When the military had absolute power, and the atmosphere in Japan was
such that people expected that men died for their country, there was a great
psychological pressure to make "you want solemnly" or simply "want."
The army would select those marked "Do you want solemnly". The reason
why the Officer Cadet Officers Evidentiary Special flights should answer the
questionnaire, rather than sending your requests personally have happened
because the cadets with a university education had a wider view of life, and
therefore would not be very easily inclined to apply these missions.
Application
For general application, the army was convinced there would be many
young drivers who do solicited. They were right. Each of the students of the
15th Promotion Training School Young Drivers, requested it. Due to the large
number of volunteers, the military decided, given the urgency of achieving
the best results quickly, than those with better preparation were selected
first.
Personal reasons
There are several factors that made the young pilots volunteer for such
missions are presented. Surely, extreme patriotism was one of them. To this
it is added that there was a divine reverence to the Emperor. Some say,
generally believed that if one died for the emperor and was worthy of being
honored in the Yasukuni Shrine, would be happily ever after.
Military education
Mako Sasaki says - ". What was the military education has been described in
the diary he kept the Cape Yukio Araki, from the moment he entered the
School of Training of Young Drivers, until the night before his departure for
Okinawa"
"Like everything they wrote was reviewed by the Kempeitai, he could not
manifest anything that could disturb the military or contradict the ideas of
the Japanese Government. However and most importantly, because of the
lack of privacy, they could not write personal emotions. Therefore, the daily
Cape Araki, rarely you can find something "personal". The first day in
training school, he simply lists the topics that were studied that day and
what was done in physical training. Later which was mentioned in flight
training, events and other things that happened made. However, most of
what he wrote, was on "warnings" rather warnings, he received. "
"One of the issues mentioned in the paper was a course called Reading
Moral Spiritual, mentioned almost every other day not. What exactly was
taught in this course is not mentioned. However, it seems that in one of
these courses , large military figures who died for their country were
mentioned. It is certain that this course was a factor that made the drivers
feel "happy and proud" to be involved in Kamikaze attacks. "
have a proper spirit. by not giving them time to think, no time to evaluate
what they had been taught. They just absorbed, and as a result, by the time
they graduated, they were already fully conditioned. "
Cape Araki, had an older brother and three younger siblings. In his will to his
parents that he wanted to mention two of his younger brothers also entered
the military service; one had entered the Navy to become official, the other
in the army for being too formal. He also mentions that you want your
brothers go their way, engaging in Kamikaze attacks.
Mr. S. Araki, brother Cape Araki, mentions that his brother changed a lot
after entering the military school. He remembers his brother's attitude
toward him was not current, and not the way it speaks to a brother. He felt
his brother had really matured both physically and psychologically, from the
last time you saw him.
There are three references that are Araki Cape thoughts about the mission:
his will, the last letters and his diary. In testament to his parents and his
brother, he mentions that no nostalgic feelings. In the testament he
addressed to his brother, mentioned that he would like him to think of
mission as pious. In a postcard sent on the day of the mission, the mission
he calls "an honorable mission," and hopes to see him again at the Yasukuni
Shrine.
It was in late March 1945, the mission of the unit Cape Araki took place.
Since then Cape Araki wrote no more in his diary. After a touchdown on 16
March, there were more notes for two months. He wrote that due to being
busy, did not have time to write. Can that be possible? he asks Mako Sasaki
was actually his squad with a busy schedule in March. Since 25 they
returned from Pyongyang (Korea) to the prefecture of Gifu. However,
Sergeant Kazuo Arai had time to keep your day during that time. It may
have been that strong personal emotions that Corporal Araki could not keep
the paper. Or it may have been, they did not care to have to write it.
Anyway, that did not make any note on the execution of the mission was
officially ordered, before he had scored when other special events, reveals
that no longer had the state of mind you had before.
The planned mission of the 72nd Squadron Shinbu (which was the squadron
to which it belonged Corporal Araki) was initially dated 21 May 1945.
However, due to rainy weather, was postponed to 27 May 1945. In its last
entry on May 20, 1945, he wrote:
And there it ends. However, his writing is very stable and it was not like I
was losing control. If for some reason, he would have had to temporarily quit
your day, why he did not return to continue it? Was it that he was extremely
excited and could not continue writing? As it was, he never returned to his
newspaper.
Letters
Two types of cards are, to read the last written by the Kamikaze pilots, some
are "typical" and other "unique". Most of the "typical" letters were written by
graduates of military schools such as the School of Youth Pilot Training. The
"unique" were written by the evidence Cadet Officers Special Flights
-graduados university. The first two of the five cards have been "typical"
letters, and the other three, "only" cards.
Cape Masato Hisanaga the 72nd Squadron Shinbu was 20 years old. In his
letter thanks his parents for years of life and reported them how he had
been doing and told them what kind they were with him. By asking his
parents to tell them "hi" to several people, he tells them that will retaliate
by his brothers (who, it seems, must have been killed in combat) the enemy
battleships sinking and killing sailors. He also asks his younger brothers
followed his brother, namely, himself. "All the (Japanese) population is the
Tokkotai". He also mentioned: "I have nostalgic feelings."
Cape Shinji Ozeki, 19, wrote his wishes to his mother saying:
"As a man, I'll go with courage. Now I have nostalgic feelings. But I'll regret
that though man is born, has had no filial piety."
"I think it's pity, give it to this young assistance for the protection of the
imperial nation."
"I hope you will forgive my sin for failing to comply (with you) and you live
happily."
Mako Sasaki says, "This is very similar to what the Cape Araki and Hisanaga
mentioned. All reveals his thoughts to his parents. They thought that his
death was pious, showing that they did it for his family. All not mentioned
possibly having nostalgic feelings to their parents feel better. How are you
are "typical" many others have written letters in the same way. "
"People say that our feelings are resigned, but that does not in any way
reflect how we feel and think as if we were the fish that is going to be
cooked."
"To allow this cute Japan continue to grow, to be delivered from the evil
hands of the Americans and British, and to build a free Asia is our goal
before the end of the year Gakuto Chutsujin;. Yet nothing has changed"
"The great day when we are in direct contact with the battle will be our day
of happiness and at the same time, the commemoration of our death ..."
Second Lieutenant Ryoji Uehara, a graduate of Keio University, was 22. His
ideas were "radical" for its time, and if they had been known to the Kempei
Tai, it had not been left alone. In a note, he wrote to a journalist shortly
before his mission that he was very honored to have been chosen as pilot
Kamikaze. He also wrote, thinking logically with the skills acquired in
college. He believed in democracy. He believed that the victory of
democracy was obvious and even fascism had made him believe that the
country seemed temporarily successful, just waiting for him decline. He
mentioned the fact that Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany have been
overcome, and that the power of "freedom" appear in history. He says that if
his ideas are correct, it will be a tragedy for the nation, but he will be happy.
At the end of the note he wrote:
"Tomorrow, a believer of democracy leave this world. It will seem lonely, but
his heart is full of satisfaction."
Mako Sasaki says, "Second Lieutenant Uehara did not believe the Crypt
would go to Yasukuni, but would go to heaven where he could meet his
brother and the girl he loved, who had died before."
Toshio Anazawa
As a committed, as a man who has to go man, I gotta tell you little, a lady,
before I go.
You do not mind the past. You must not live in the past.
Have the courage and forget the past. You have to create a new future.
Mako Sasaki continues "Unlike the first two cards, which contain the words"
I'm not nostalgic emotions, "he wrote," It is too late now, but I mean some of
my wishes. "
So he made a list of the books he had wanted to read, I would have liked to
see, which would have wanted to hear and he was eager to see and hear.
The last three letters probably speak for themselves and require no
explanation. They simply clarify the different ways of thinking that college
students had against those belonging to military schools.
Not only in manuscripts were the thoughts of the drivers. In actions and
conversations were present emotions, according to Mr. Yasuo Takahashi, his
older brother, Corporal Takahashi Mineyoshi changed since entering the
military school and their attitude to speak with Mr. Takahashi was not like it
used to be . (The way Mr. Takahashi said they were these differences before
and after Mineyoshi join the militia, was similar to the differences found by
the Lord. S. Araraki in Yukio.) He recalls that the last time he found he took
him to the boat where he worked. Suddenly he asked, "What part of the
boat is the most vulnerable?" Mr. Takahashi recalls that he was extremely
surprised, but said the place he thought was the weakest.
This reveals that Corporal Takahashi thought about his mission with some
calm. He asked the question probably thinking where in a boat had crashed
his plane.
Mako Sasaki says "Before his departure, Cape Takamasa Senda was singing
many songs with children and sometimes sat burning old letters, alone and
very still, with an expression of deep thought. The last night he looked at the
stars and he told his brother: "You're lucky, this will be the last time I can
see the stars ... I wonder how my mom ..." Singing with children was likely to
forget the mission was coming, and burn the letters was to forget the past.
What he said about the stars indicated he wanted to live. "
Although patriotism was the answer to how they felt, it is doubtful in the
case of Second Lieutenant Fumishiro Mitsuyama. His real name was Tak
Kyong-Hyong. He was Korean, but like other Japanese, he was also sent to
war, and was chosen as Kamikaze pilot. The last night before his mission, he
went to the cafe frequented by army personnel which was managed by Ms.
Tome Torihama called "Okasan" (mother) by young Kamikaze pilots of Chiran
Airbase. He went to her and said, "I will sing a song of my land," and sang
Ariran. In the second stanza, his eyes filled with tears. Because he was a
college graduate, he not volunteered but was probably pressured circled
"you want solemnly" in the survey, especially for being Korean.
A survivor
Mako Sasaki says "According to survivors, they all say that they felt
completely calm and normal. They were not frightened by death but happy
they were that day finally arrived. Mr. Itatsu was a pilot who departed for the
mission but he survived because the plane fell into the sea, because the
engine failed. He remembers being happy when he was chosen for the
mission. He says young then, who went to military schools, did not have the
ability to think logically , and therefore sent requests without much thought.
He also said that those guys were really innocent and pure thought, they
should be able to serve and protect the homeland. An author and critic
Tadao Morimoto he said in a TV program that he believed it was not true
that they were happy to die for his country. Mr. Itatsu says disagrees with
him because some innocent young pilots died believing they would be
happy to die as well.
El trmino Kamikaze (Viento Divino) fue utilizado originalmente por los traductores
estadounidenses para referirse a los ataques suicidas efectuados por pilotos de una
unidad especial perteneciente a la Armada Imperial Japonesa contra embarcaciones
de la flota de los Aliados a finales de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
INDICE:
A. HISTORIA.
B. ENTRENAMIENTO.
C. EL CREDO KAMIKAZE.
D. GALERA FOTOGRFICA.
D1. Museo Chiran de la Paz de los Pilotos Kamikaze.
E. FUENTE TEXTO Y FOTOS.
A. HISTORIA
Los marinos americanos compendiaron casi de pronto que tenia ante ellos una nueva
arma o, al menos, un nuevo modo de combatir. En el transcurso de la Batalla Naval
del Mar de Samar, un Zero roci de rfagas de ametralladoras el puente de mando del
USS Kitkum Bay, y luego, en vez de desviarse, contino en picado, yendo a estrellarse
contra pasadizo de cubierta de la izquierda, donde exploto con un estruendo horrible,
y luego cay al mar. Pocos minutos despus algo semejante iba a suceder el USS
Fanshaw Bay. Los hombres de las bateras antiareas vieron venir de frente a dos
Zeros. Parecan dos proyectiles lanzados contra el costado del portaaviones, y ni
siquiera la barrera de fuego cruzado habran sido capaces de detener su carrera, pero
de pronto chocaron ligeramente entre si y estallaron en una sola llamarada.
Enmudecieron, los servidores americanos se miraron, secndose el sudor frio que
cubra sus frentes.
Menos afortunados fueron los del USS Saint-L, porque all un Zero que dejaba tras de
si una estela de humo negro apuntando certeramente hacia la pista de vuelo como si
pretendiera posarse, pero de pronto se encabrito y prefiri estrellarse sobre ella
antes de que los hombres se dieran cuenta de las intenciones del piloto. Fue un
golpe, por as decirlo, afortunado. Exactamente lo que los creadores de los pilotos
suicidas pensaban cuando haban empezado a entrenar a los Kamikazes, porque las
llamas se extendieron rpidamente al hangar inferior y luego a las bodegas. El vientre
del navo fue sacudido por las violentas explosiones, y los supervivientes recibieron
orden de lanzarse al mar. Lo hicieron justo a tiempo para ver hundirse al USS SaintL. Los nufragos se mostraron de acuerdo en denominar al piloto que haba
Esta foto proporcionada por el ex piloto kamikaze Toshio Yoshitake, muestra Yoshitake,
derecha, y sus compaeros pilotos, desde la izquierda, Tetsuya Ueno, Koshiro Hayashi,
Naoki Okagami y Takao Oi, ya que presentan juntos en frente de un avin de combate
Zero antes de despegar del la pista de aterrizaje del Ejrcito Imperial en Choshi, al este
de Tokio, el 8 de noviembre de 1944. Ninguno de los otros 17 pilotos e instructores de
vuelo que volaron con Yoshitake ese da sobrevivi. Yoshitake slo sobrevivi porque un
avin de guerra estadounidense le dispar en el aire, se estrell al aterrizar y fue
rescatado por los soldados japoneses
El nuevo sistema permita, efectivamente infligir a la flota de los Estados Unidos los
mximos daos que las otras armas no eran capaces de causar, y adems con un
mnimo de perdidas. Esta fue la idea fundamental de la nueva clase de ataque. Aun
cuando puede parecer monstruoso, el nuevo sistema presentaba dos importantes
ventajas: eliminaba las importantsimas prdidas sufridas intilmente en los vuelos de
ida y regreso, y poda infligir sin duda un golpe gravsimo a la moral de los soldados
americanos. La ventaja tctica era inmediata y evidente, y la estrategia poda asumir
proporciones inesperadas. Algunos oficiales superiores nipones consideraban que,
frente a esta violenta y extraordinaria reaccin, quizs renunciaran inmediatamente
los americanos al desembarco final en suelo japons, desembarco que se presentara
tan costoso y sangriento que les convencera de entablar conversaciones aceptables
para el Imperio del Sol Naciente. De aqu que estos ataques desesperados se iban a
transformar, paradjicamente, de gestos desesperados en renovadas esperanzas sobre
las que se basaran ya todas las aspiraciones del Japn.
Antes incluso de la organizacin oficial e los cuerpos de ataques especiales tuvo lugar
un episodio extraordinario. Al parecer, la primera operacin concertada de este tipo
se realizo el 5 de julio de 1944, con el desconocimiento de los mandos supremos y de
los promotores del nuevo ataque. El comandante de la aviacin naval con base en Iwo
Jima se vio obligado a recurrir a una accin de este gnero a causa del enorme
sacrificio de hombres y de material que su agrupacin estaba padeciendo desde haca
unos das. Los aviones americanos volaban sin descanso sobre Iwo Jima, destruyendo
sistemticamente todo lo que a su paso encontraban. Las incursiones de contraataque
japonesas no haban dado resultado alguno, mientras que las prdidas eran
elevadsimas, hasta el punto de que en ms de una ocasin no se haba salvado ni un
solo aviador. La noche del 4 de julio, el jefe dispona de nueve cazas Zero y ocho
torpederos. Con esta exigua formacin no poda desencadenar una ofensiva del tipo
tradicional; por ello pens en lo que haba odo decir a propsito de las acciones
especiales.
Reflexiono mucho sobre ello y, muy avanzado la noche, se decidi a hablar a sus
hombres. La propuesta fue acogida con reacciones diversas, y si unos se
entusiasmaron inmediatamente, hubo quien bacilo mucho antes de aceptar esta
misin de sacrificio. Sin embargo, al final partieron todos. Era el 5 de julio de 1944.
Por desgracia, los 17 aviones fueron atacados antes de haber alcanzado su objetivo
por una escuadrilla de Hellcat americanos, que los dispersaron, abatiendo a ms de la
mitad. Los aviadores nipones, desesperados por no haber podido alcanzar su objetivo,
se vieron obligados a invertir su ruta y regresar a Iwo Jima. La decisin constituyo un
grave caso de conciencia: acaso no habra partido para una misin sin retorno?.
Con la sangra de aviones de que la aviacin nipona era vctima desde haca algn
tiempo, tal apoyo pareca imposible. Onishi declaro que estaba decidido a ir mas all
de las normas acostumbradas, a fin de compensar la escasez de medios. Y aadi: Ya
no somos suficientemente poderosos para enfrentarnos al enemigo en combate
areo y no nos queda otra salida que la de impedir el despegue de los aviones
americanos. Por lo tanto, hay que inutilizar las pistas de los americanos, aunque
solo sea durante una semana. Pienso que el nico modo de alcanzar nuestro
objetivo es cargar los aviones de caza con bombas de 250 kg y estrellarlos contra
el objetivo. Qu piensan ustedes de ello?". As se expresaba el Almirante Onishi
ante la reunin de oficiales de la 201 Escuadrilla. Su razonamiento era lgico e
impecable. No haba nada que oponer a su frio rigor militar. La propuesta dejo helado
a sus oyentes, si bien ya se esperaba, antes o despus, una decisin de este gnero.
Evidentemente, los oficiales no ignoraban que muchos pilotos haban considerado la
posibilidad de efectuar ataques de este tipo, pero el hecho de or hablar oficialmente
de ello a un almirante les dejo petrificados.
Todos eran conscientes de que esta reunin pasara a la historia. Tras no pocas crisis
de conciencia y meditacin, la tcnica del almirante obtuvo el consenso unnime. A
consecuencia de esta decisin, la 201 escuadrilla cre un nuevo grupo que adopto la
denominacin de Cuerpo Especial de Asalto por Impacto. Todo sucedi como si se
tratase de un trmite administrativo ordinario, ya que el asunto estaba en el aire
desde tiempo atrs y pareca que todos aguardaban sus comienzos. Desde la aparicin
de los Hellcat americanos, que abatan un nmero mayor de unidades zero (eran
mejores y estaban mejor armados que stos, que, adems, se confiaba a pilotos que
no haba recibido un entrenamiento realmente eficaz), haba aumentado las
solicitudes de autorizacin para sacrificar el avin contra el objetivo. Al da siguiente
de la Batalla de las Marianas, por ejemplo, el comandante del portaaviones IJN
Chiyoda envi una solicitud muy significativa al Cuartel General: Solicito permiso
para asumir el mando de un Cuerpo Areo especial, constituido por pilotos
destinados a lanzarse contra las naves enemigas.
La solicitud fue rechazada, pero pocos meses despus otro oficial, el Vicealmirante
Onishi, realizaba el proyecto. Paracaidista experimentado, as de la aviacin y
partidario de la construccin de portaaviones en vez de los superados acorazados.
Onishi haba colaborado ampliamente con Yamamoto (entre otras cosas, le haba
ayudado a elaborar el plan de ataque contra Pearl harbor) hasta que se le encargo la
direccin de los programas de fabricacin de aviones. Desde este cargo fue donde
pudo darse cuenta de que el Japn iba derecho a una catstrofe, ya que se perda
ms aviones de los que se podan fabricarse. Lo que cuenta (escriba en aquella
poca) para un jefe es poder encontrar una muerte til y honrosa para sus
soldados. Creo firmemente que las acciones de sacrificio no son otra cosa que un
infinito acto de amor hacia nuestro pas.
CONTENTS:
A. HISTORY.
B. TRAINING.
C. THE CREED KAMIKAZE.
D. PHOTO GALLERY.
D1. Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots.
E. SOURCE TEXT AND PHOTOS.
A. HISTORY
Image
Kamikaze attack the USS St. Lo
slightly with each other and burst into a single blaze. They fell silent, looked
at the American servers, wiping the cold sweat on their foreheads.
Less fortunate were the USS Saint-L, because there one Zero leaving
behind a trail of black smoke pointing unerringly toward the runway as if to
land, but suddenly reared and preferred crashing over it before men realized
the intentions of the pilot. It was a blow, as it were, lucky. Exactly what the
creators of the suicide pilots thought when they had begun to train the
Kamikazes, because the flames quickly spread to the lower hangar and then
to the wineries. The belly of the ship was rocked by violent explosions, and
the survivors were ordered to jump into the sea. They did so just in time to
see sink the USS Saint-L. The castaways were agreed to name the pilot had
caused the loss of the USS Saint-L a 'Devil Diver ", a devil dive. They did
not know yet that it was not an isolated case, but detachment or true fans.
Image
Yukio Seki Kamikaze pilot who attacked the USS St. Lo
Image
This provided by former kamikaze pilot Toshio Yoshitake, shows Yoshitake,
right, and his fellow pilots, from left, Tetsuya Ueno Koshiro Hayashi, Takao
Naoki Oi ofogami and photo as they present together in front of a Zero
fighter plane before taking off from the runway of the Imperial Army in
Choshi, east of Tokyo, on November 8, 1944. None of the other 17 pilots and
flight instructors who flew with Yoshitake that day survived. Yoshitake only
survived because a US warplane fired in the air, crashed on landing and was
rescued by Japanese soldiers
Despite all this, and contrary to what one might think, the first aviators
Japanese who individually performed these decisive actions were praised,
and his feat was like an episode either, almost ignored, known only to fellow
squad hero. No mention, no posthumous award the inflamed, and the
highest levels were insensitive to tactical scope of the new formula of
attack. In late 1943 and early 1944, nothing changed, apparently, this state
of affairs, and the idea was sunk at the bottom of some consciences. In the
beginning was actually a long management of the spirit, and not a mass
appeal as would be inclined to believe. The most they exalted talking to
each other about it as the last resort which would act effectively against the
enemy, but were kept very well to communicate their revolutionary high
places ideas. The first half of 1944 brought its crop of new defeats, new
setbacks on all fronts, and the idea of the special attacks made converts.
Some promoters talked to some superior officers, but the proposal was not
well received at a high level, and this approach does not seem to lead
anywhere. But many dozens of Japanese aviators implemented, always with
personal initiative, this heroic gesture, but his example influenced only other
fighters and not on general military authorities. However, some officers had
dealt with the problem, and began to study its possible tactical aspects.
From the middle of 1944, the number of special attacks increased markedly
spontaneous, and since it was necessary to take into account high level and
devise new tactics that serve to frame the new initiative officially. Therefore,
some heads examined the problem in all its aspects and reached the same
conclusions as the promoters: the new formula of attack was the last hope
for Japan to try to overturn a strategic situation had become dramatic. Staff
of the national drama there is only one step, albeit an important one, and it
gave many Japanese.
Image
Picture taken from the USS Washington when the USS Enterprise is hit by a
suicide attack on May 14, 1945
The new system allowed effectively inflict on the US fleet maximum damage
other weapons were not capable of causing, and also with minimal losses.
This was the fundamental idea of the new class of attack. While it may seem
monstrous, the new system had two major advantages: eliminating all
important losses in vain round-trip flights, and could certainly inflict a
serious morale of American soldiers hit. The tactical advantage was
immediate and obvious, and the strategy could take unexpected
proportions. Some Japanese senior officials felt that, against this violent and
extraordinary reaction, perhaps resign immediately end the Americans
landing on Japanese soil, landing to be presented as costly and bloody to
convince them to engage in talks acceptable to the Empire of the Rising
Sun. Hence these desperate attacks were to transform paradoxically
desperate gestures on renewed hopes that the aspirations and would base
all of Japan.
Even before the official organization and the bodies of special attacks took
place an extraordinary episode. Apparently, the first concerted operation of
this kind was held on July 5, 1944, with the ignorance of the supreme
commanders and promoters of the new attack. The commander of the naval
aviation based on Iwo Jima was forced to resort to an action of this kind
because of the enormous sacrifice of men and material that his group was
suffering for some days. American planes flew tirelessly on Iwo Jima,
systematically destroying everything in its path were. Japanese counter
raids had not produced any results, while losses were very high, so much so
that on more than one occasion had not saved a single flyer. On the night of
July 4, the boss had nine Zero fighters eight torpedo. With this meager
training could not trigger an offensive of the traditional type; therefore he
thought about what he had heard about special actions.
Image
I reflect a lot about it and most advanced night, he decided to talk to his
men. The proposal was greeted with mixed reactions, and if some were
enthusiastic immediately, much bacillus was none before accepting this
mission of sacrifice. However, in the end they all set. It was on July 5, 1944.
Unfortunately, 17 aircraft were attacked before reaching its target by a
squadron of American Hellcat, which dispersed, killing more than half. The
Japanese airmen, desperate for failing to achieve its objective, were forced
to reverse its path and return to Iwo Jima. The decision was a serious case of
conscience: perhaps there would be no match for a mission of no return ?.
Image
Vice Admiral nishi Takijiro
To Admiral Onishi, in fact, the only problem was the regulation of the
material organization. The shortage of available aircraft limited the
widespread use of the new procedure. Furthermore, according to the admiral
himself, these attacks should be limited in time and fit into "Operation Sho",
ie, in the uncompromising defense of the archipelago of the Philippines.
Featuring well, the beginning of the new offensive system not only found
immediately for the High Command, but also was welcomed enthusiastically
by many pilots, to the point of having to restrain the initial ardor and
conduct a careful recruitment, because the small number of aircraft. On
October 17, Admiral Onishi came to the Philippines. Immediately summon
the heads of the 201st Squadron and as commander of the First Air Fleet,
gave them new arrangements, to ensure the total success of Operation Sho.
He explained that the move was intended Admiral Kurita fleet of Leyte Gulf
to fight against the American amphibious forces and, therefore, it was
essential the support of aviation, which would allow ships through the straits
without being liquidated.
With bleeding Japanese aircraft that aviation was the victim for some time,
such support seemed impossible. Onishi said he was determined to go
beyond the usual standards in order to compensate for the lack of means.
He added: "We are no longer powerful enough to face the enemy in aerial
combat and we have no way out but to prevent the departure of the
American planes. Therefore, you must disable the slopes of the Americans,
even if only for a week. I think the only way to achieve our goal is to load
the fighters with 250 kg bombs and crash against the target. What do you
about it think? ". So Admiral Onishi was expressed at the meeting of officials
201st Squadron. His reasoning was sound and clean. There was no objection
to his cold military rigor. The proposal left iced his listeners although as
expected, sooner or later, a decision of this kind. Obviously, the officers
were not unaware that many pilots had considered the possibility of such
attacks, but the fact heard officially about it talk to an admiral them I leave
petrified.
Image
A Japanese kamikaze pilot in a single-engine bomber damaged, moments
before hitting the aircraft carrier USS Essex, off the Philippines, on
November 25, 1944
All were aware that this meeting would go down in history. After many crises
of conscience and meditation technique Admiral won the unanimous
consensus. As a result of this decision, the 201st squadron created a new
group adopted the name "Special Assault Corps for Impact". Everything
happened as if it were an ordinary administrative procedure, as the matter
was in the air for some time and it seemed that everyone awaited the
beginning. Since the emergence of the American Hellcat, which rained down
a larger number of units zero (they were better and were better armed than
they, who also pilots had not received a really effective workout was hoped),
had increased requests for permission to sacrifice the plane into the goal.
The day after the Battle of the Marianas, for example, the commander of the
aircraft carrier IJN Chiyoda sent a very significant at Headquarters request:
The request was denied, but few months later another officer, Vice Admiral
Onishi, performed the project. Experienced skydiver, flying ace and
supporter of building aircraft carriers rather than battleships overcome.
Onishi had worked extensively with Yamamoto (among other things, had
helped him develop the plan of attack on Pearl Harbor) until you trust the
direction of the aircraft manufacturing programs. From this position he was
where he could realize that Japan was entitled to a catastrophe, as more
aircraft which could be made was lost. "What counts (he wrote at the time)
for a boss it is to find a useful and honorable death for his soldiers. I firmly
believe that the actions of sacrifice are nothing but an infinite act of love for
our country. "
La vspera del desembarco americano en las Filipinas. Onishi Takiyiro realizo una
misin en el sudeste y llego, como ya hemos dicho, a Manila, justo a tiempo para
poner en prctica sus ideas. Fue el personalmente quien dividi la escuadrilla en
grupos y nombro a su jefe: un joven que tuviese un alto valor tcnico y moral. Se
eligi a un capitn piloto de bombarderos, procedente de Formosa, apellidado Seki.
Al amanecer el da 20 de octubre mientras los Marines americanos trataban de
consolidar la cabeza de puente de Leyte, y la flota de Shima, Ozawa, Nishimura y
Kurita navegaban a toda mquina hacia su destino, el comandante de la base de
Manila despert al Capitn Yukio Seki: Seki, el Vicealmirante Onishi llegar dentro
de un momento. Hemos decidido preparar un ataque Kamikaze, que se efectuara
con cazas Zero cargado con bombas de 250 kg. Usted asumir el mando.
Pasaron cinco segundo antes de que Seki respondiera. Llevaba poco tiempo
casado y el da anterior, precisamente, haba escrito a su madre y a su esposa.
Acept. Unas horas ms tarde, en Mabalaki, la escuadrilla de los primeros
Kamikazes reciba su bautismo de muerte.
El USS Bunker Hill fue atacado por 2 aviones suicidas en menos de 30 segundos de
diferencia el 11 de mayo de 1945
Cubierta del USS Saratoga despus del impacto de un avin el 21 de febrero de 1945
Las bajas que provocaron los kamikazes a la flota de Estados Unidos fueron
elevadsimas. Resultaron hundidos un total de 53 barcos de guerra estadounidenses
repartidos en: 4 portaaviones, 16 destructores, 3 dragaminas, 2 torpederos, 1
submarino, 8 cargueros militares, 2 petroleros, 16 transportes de tropas y 1
remolcador. La cifra de navos daados por kamikaze fue de 373 buques entre los que
haba 31 portaaviones. Las bajas entre marineros y la tropa estadounidense a manos
de kamikazes fueron cerca de 7.000 muertos y 10.000 heridos.
B. ENTRENAMIENTO
menos que de una manera u otra lograran hacer intervenir elementos que fueran
capaces, por s solos, de cambiar radicalmente la situacin. As, pues, era muy
natural que, en semejantes circunstancias los combatientes nipones estuvieran
dispuestos a sacrificar sus vidas por el emperador y por la patria. Su patriotismo tena
su origen en la conviccin, profundamente arraigada en el nimo de todos esos
hombres, de que la nacin, la sociedad e incluso el universo entero se identificaban
en la persona del emperador, y por esa causa estaban decididos a sacrificar sus vidas.
Por lo que respecta a la fundamental cuestin de la vida y de la muerte, la base
espiritual de los japoneses, estaba constituida por una absoluta obediencia a la
autoridad indiscutible del soberano, incluso, como ya se ha dicho, a costa de la propia
vida.
El USS Columbia segundos antes de ser impactado por un avin el 6 de enero de 1945
Por ejemplo, el programa que deban de seguir los pilotos con base en Formosa se
divida en breves y diversas fases: en primer lugar, el adiestramiento de los nuevos
pilotos kamikazes tena una duracin de siete das, dedicadas las dos primeras
Para los cazas ligeros y rpidos, como los Zero (Zeke) y para los bombarderos
embarcado tipo Suise (Judy) se adoptaron dos mtodos de aproximacin con vistas a
los ataques especiales, mtodos que se haba revelado especialmente eficaces. La
aproximacin deba realizarse a la mxima o a la mnima altura posible. Aunque
desde el punto de vista de la exactitud de la navegacin y de la buena visibilidad
hubiera sido preferible una altura media, se prefera renunciar a estas ventajas en
consideracin a otros factores. En efecto, la altura preferida estaba comprendida
entre los 5.500 y los 6.500 metros, y ello por dos razones:
Por lo que respecta a la aproximacin a muy poca altura los aparatos volaban lo ms
cerca posible de la superficie del mar, de manera que se retrasara el mximo su
localizacin por los radares. En las postrimeras del ao 1944 se consideraba que el
radar americano tena un alcance de 160 km a gran altura y de 30-50 km a baja
altura. En las ocasiones en que disponan de muchas unidades de ataque, se aplicaba
simultneamente bien el mtodo de aproximacin a baja cota bien el de alta cota,
que adems se efectuaba en rutas distintas.
En la aproximacin a gran altura era necesario que los pilotos estuvieran muy atentos,
a fin de que el ngulo de picado no resultase excesivo, pues entonces el aparato sera
ms difcil de manejar y adems, bajo la creciente accin de las fuerzas de gravedad,
el piloto perdera fcilmente su control. Era, pues, de la mayor importancia que el
picado fuera lo menos profundo posible y que el piloto prestase gran atencin al
viento de cola y a cualquier movimiento por parte del objetivo. En el caso de la
aproximacin a baja altura, apenas se avistaba un navo enemigo el avin se
remontaba bruscamente a 3.500-4.500 metros, para luego arrojarse en picado sobre
el objetivo previsto. Este mtodo requera una habilidad muy especial por parte del
piloto, puesto que el impacto deba producirse en la cubierta del navo que se elega
como blanco. Adems, el mtodo de picado en candela, sobre la cubierta del buque
resulto ser bastante ms eficaz que el de estrellarse contra el costado del mismo. Por
esta razn, los pilotos kamikazes eran inducidos a adoptar el mtodo de picado en
candela en cuanto su grado de adiestramiento lo permita y siempre que las
condiciones en que se desarrollaba el ataque fuera favorable.
Para llevar a cabo una misin kamikaze adems de conseguir hacer blanco sobre el
buque objetivo, era de suma importancia que el piloto supiera montar en su aparato,
despegar, situarse en formacin y conseguir luego volar siempre entre el violento
fuego de los caones enemigos. Con este fin, los pilotos kamikazes tambin eran
sometidos a un entrenamiento muy riguroso respecto a todo aquello que se refera al
embarco, al despegue, al vuelo en formacin as como al ataque. En el caso de un
despegue a plena carga, era muy importante que el piloto no remontase el vuelo
demasiado bruscamente, que maniobrase los mandos con la necesaria lentitud y que
se situase a unos 50 m de altura antes de recoger el tren de aterrizaje. Otro
importante factor en el momento del despegue era el de alcanzar el conjunto de la
formacin y mantenerse en fila estrechamente cerrada, de manera que no fuera
necesario realizar evoluciones demasiado amplias.
C. EL CREDO KAMIKAZE
PREGUNTA: Acaso creais que los pilotos kamikazes realizaban las misiones a fin
de que su espritu reposara en paz y sus nombres fueran honrado en el altar
RESPUESTA: No era necesario realizar misiones kamikazes para ser honrado en el altar
de Yasakuni, puesto que todo hombre cado en combate, cualquiera que sea su grado
o su procedencia, es honrado en este altar. Nunca nos movi una idea semejante. La
verdadera razn que nos impulsaba a utilizar este tipo de ataques consista en la
enorme diferencia existente entre el potencial productivos de ambos pases y en la
carencia de mtodos de combate alternativos. As fue como llegamos a la conclusin
de que el mejor mtodo que podramos adoptar era el de matar miles de hombres con
un solo hombres y hundir un buque de guerra con un solo avin.
D. GALERA FOTOGRFICA
Consecuencias del 25 de noviembre 1943 ataque kamikaze contra el USS Essex. Los
bomberos y los fragmentos dispersos de los aviones japoneses cubren la cubierta de
vuelo. El avin se estrell contra el borde del puerto de la cubierta de vuelo, el aterrizaje
de los aviones alimentados para despegar, causando grandes daos, matando a 15 e
hiriendo a 44
Una vista ms cercana de los aviones kamikazes japoneses, alcanzado por la artillera
antiareos y desvindose ligeramente hacia la izquierda momentos antes de estrellarse
contra el USS Essex el 25 de noviembre de 1944
Antes de ascender a su avin por ltima vez, un compaero le coloca en la cabeza una
cinta con la bandera nipona
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The USS Bunker Hill was attacked by two suicide planes in less than 30
seconds ahead of the May 11, 1945
The idea of suicide attacks had spread spontaneously, as the pilots were
aware of the enemy's superiority. Even the term "kamikaze attack" had been
assimilated by the pilots, since before the official establishment of this body
by Onishi had occurred, as mentioned above, numerous personal attempts
and isolated. The last one took place the Admiral Masafuni Areima, October
15, on the coast of Formosa. This boss had tried to crash on the bridge of a
US aircraft carrier, but the anti-aircraft guns were able to bring him down
time. The next day two other drivers tried to do the same, but never knew if
they were successful because they did not return to base.
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The Battle of the Philippines, which would last until the end of January 1945,
hardened because of the suicide pilots Onishi, who never had difficulty in
recruiting candidates for death. Kamikazes activity acquired increasing
importance as the situation worsened. "As the war was coming to Japan, the
kamikaze attacks intensified. The crews were recruited daily at universities.
A total of 2,950 aircraft, of which 2,400 belonged to the Navy, left on
kamikaze missions; 450 of them achieved their goal, with a percentage of
18 percent. The army, meanwhile, used 500 aircraft for naval operations
and as many land bases for attacks ". At the end the Japanese authorities
began to have difficulties in imposing their young suicide pilots methods. We
had to resort to a service to watch the flight of the kamikazes, since in more
than one occasion, the suicide pilots changed their minds at the last
moment, changing course and turning around, to let your fellow passengers
and land on an island in the Pacific, abandoned by the Japanese military.
Apparently, many former kamikazes lived completely alone in these islands,
where they remained even after the war.
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Japanese rider dressed for his last mission
More that should not mislead. Almost all young students enrolled for this
holocaust supreme true to their purpose remained and died in the lonely,
terrible and exalted martyrdom, in order to save a Japan that was already
doomed. The most absurd aspect of the whole issue concerns the last cry of
the kamikazes launched before rushing on its target, is "Ten thousand years
of life to the emperor!" In which all simple and blind loyalty clean hearts was
synthesized to their sovereign. But the king was against the war and he did
not miss any chance to confess the faithful. In a way, he also was a prisoner
of the political and military that had intrigued to Japan enzarzase in the
race. This is a circumstance that should not be underestimated, as it can
help to better understand the development of the internal situation in Japan
in the past and atrocious months of the war, when Emperor Hirohito tried in
vain to preserve the country from calamity .
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Admiral Matome Ugaki before his last outing, in a kamikaze operation
The truth is that the Japanese monarchy was a kind of inverted pyramid, the
emperor, the incarnation of their god on earth, holding everything else, and
especially to the military class and aristocracy. Obviously, it was a fictional
construction, designed to keep submissive to millions of subjects,
preventing citizens to be authentic, but it was actually true. Generals,
admirals, politicians, financiers: all willingly underwent, at least in
appearance, the rigid ceremonial imposed by the fact that the emperor was
a god. They accepted this fiction in exchange for the sovereign-God would
grant them their privileges, their benevolence and authority. All generals
during the war years led armies to attack, enjoyed great authority, but the
Chiefs Japanese boasted of executing divine orders. This situation will help
to understand what was happening. For example, we can understand how
4,615 young people aged between twenty and twenty five years, almost all
college students immolated themselves for their purest fanatical faith in a
God who did not want death, but could never find the words to say . Even
their bosses preferred to die rather than survive their innocent victims:
Admiral Ugaki led the last flight of a kamikaze group, while Vice Admiral
Onishi was the harakiri.
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Deck of the USS Saratoga after the impact of a plane February 21, 1945
Casualties caused the bombers to US fleet were extremely high. They were
sunk a total of 53 US warships spread over 4 aircraft carriers, 16 destroyers,
B. TRAINING
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High school girls dismiss a pilot with branches of sakura
The creed of the Kamikazes derived, in a way, the Bushido, the code of
conduct of the Japanese warrior, based on self Buddhist spiritualism and
relieving a special emphasis on the value or the consciousness of man.
Another of his burning desire was to get a bursting with deep meaning, at
the right time and in their rightful place, and not raise their conduct public
censure death. When behavior is analyzed Kamikazes must be remembered
that they judged those missions as a part of their duties, and they did not
consider the duty as something extraordinary or unusual. They were so
passionate about the issue of how to successfully achieve the objectives
The term "unconscious" is used precisely to mean that these men were not
even aware of the feelings that have been described: they were so deeply
dominated by the feeling of love of country, cultivated in the history and
tradition of their country, they could not experience another feeling. The
Kamikaze attack was primarily a spiritual meaning, and any driver provided
with ordinary skill was able to carry out its mission proper way. Therefore
there was no special training method except that was particularly
emphasized, to pilots on certain factors which had already revealed to have
some importance in the course of previous experiences, these "special
attacks". However, since the pilots chosen for these missions had received a
somewhat limited preparation and had little flying experience, so they were
subjected to an intensive technical training, in order to put them in a
position to learn, at a minimum, the fundamental elements of kamikaze
attack.
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The USS Columbia seconds before being hit by a plane on January 6, 1945
For example, the program should follow the pilots based on Formosa was
divided into short, various phases: first, training of new kamikaze pilots
lasted seven days, dedicated the first two days to exercise only off. This
type of exercise covered the period running from the time the order
imparted to a mission so far in which the ship remained in flight training.
The next two days were dedicated to flight training, while at the same time
they continued practicing takeoff. The last three days were dedicated, in
particular, the theoretical study and practical exercises to approach the
target and attack, meanwhile, also continued the exercises of takeoff and
flight training. If you still have time, the entire program was repeated a
second time.
For light and fast fighters, such as Zero (Zeke) and for bombers embarked
Suise type (Judy) two methods of approach were adopted in view of the
special attacks, methods that had proved particularly effective. The
approach should be at maximum or minimum height possible. Although
from the point of view of the accuracy of navigation and good visibility have
been preferable to an average height, it was preferred to renounce these
advantages into consideration other factors. Indeed, the preferred height
was between 5,500 and 6,500 meters, and for two reasons:
The greater the height, the more difficult the interception by the enemy
becomes.
It was necessary to consider the maneuverability of a pump loaded with 250
kg plane.
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Vice Admiral Onishi image at the time that some addresses kamikazes
volunteers. Onishi then be practiced harakiri
At high approach it was necessary for the pilots were very attentive, so that
the dive angle not be excessive, because then the device would be more
difficult to handle and also under increased action of the forces of gravity,
pilot easily lose control. It was therefore of utmost importance that the
chopped off as shallow as possible and that the pilot lend great attention to
tailwind and any movement of the lens. In the case of the approach at low
altitude, just an enemy ship the plane abruptly went back to 3500-4500
meters, then throw sharply on the intended target is sighted. This method
required a special skill by the pilot, since the impact would occur on the
deck of the ship that was chosen as a target. Furthermore, the method of
crushed in candlelight on the deck of the ship turned out to be far more
effective than crashing against the side of it. For this reason, the kamikaze
pilots were induced to adopt the method of chopped in candela as their level
of training permitted provided that the conditions in which the attack took
place outside favorable.
To carry out a kamikaze mission besides getting to white on the target ship,
it was paramount that the pilot knew mounted on your appliance off, stand
in formation and get then always fly between violent fire from the enemy
guns. To this end, the kamikaze pilots were also subjected to a very rigorous
training about everything that concerned the embarkation takeoff, the flight
training as well as attack. In the case of a full load off, it was very important
that the pilot not flying too sharply remontase, who maneuvered the
controls necessary to place himself slowly and is about 50 meters high
before picking up the landing gear. Another important factor in the take off
was to achieve the set of training and keep tightly closed row, so that was
not too broad changes needed.
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Japanese pilots make their bow in the direction of Tokyo before his last flight
In the carrier, the best target was the main elevator; then followed, in order
of preference, the lifting of the bow or stern. As for other types of large
military units, the best target was the base of the bridge. And what refers to
the destroyers and other small warships and transport an impact at any
point, located on the bridge and the center of the ship, was generally very
effective. Had it not been for lack of required number of devices, the ideal
would have been to send against every major carrier four kamikazes
appliances; two on the main elevator and two cons the bow and stern
respectively. Thus, in theory, two or three attacks were considered ideal for
a number escort carriers. But the truth was that in practice the American
carriers were too many, and the Japanese had very few devices to perform
this task. "A plane for every warship" Consequently, to get at least one hit
"focused" and effective against each carrier to a single device was sent.
survivors of the 250th Air Division, or the kamikaze Division. The questions
highlight the strength of the Allies to believe that these attacks were carried
out voluntarily, and instead each Japanese response to the amazement of
questioning reflected unbelief.
QUESTION: The philosophy behind all the "creed" of the kamikaze unit is
based is in complete contradiction with the dominant ideals in the United
States, where nothing is more precise than life. According to you, how do
you explain that Japanese forces could force as many pilots to make suicide
bombing missions like this?
QUESTION: What about the recruitment of men for the kamikaze units? Were
they forced or voluntary?
A: From the first to the last man was always voluntary recruitment. Even
where complete air groups were given they volunteered for kamikaze
missions, especially to realize the difficult military situation that had come
on several fronts, for example in the Philippines.
QUESTION: In your quality of volunteers for kamikaze units, what was your
mood?
ANSWER: The graduates had only one year of military training; therefore, we
were more civilians than military, we realized that we gave the war situation
was very precarious and were convinced that under those circumstances the
special attack system was the best. Enrolbamos We therefore decided to
sacrifice as volunteers for Japan could win and the youngest of us could
study in better conditions.
ANSWER: In the area of the Philippines, at first, a toast to Admiral held. But
soon this proved impossible, as a result of the difficult war situation and the
large number of actions to perform since there was no time for ceremony.
Some of us wrote home and did will, but we did once, when he asked to be
enrolled and not before leaving for the kamikaze mission.
D. PHOTO GALLERY
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Suicide attack against the USS Langley April 11, 1945
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A closer view of Japanese kamikaze planes hit by anti-aircraft artillery and
swerving slightly to the left just before crashing into the USS Essex on
November 25, 1944
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Before ascending to his plane for the last time, a partner puts you in the
head with a tape Japanese flag
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The time offering "sake", the traditional Japanese drink before his deadly
mission
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Tokkotai pilot wearing a head hachimaki
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Kamikaze pilot Shinichi Ishimaru
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Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
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Belongings of a pilot Tokkotai displayed in Chiran Peace Museum
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Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
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Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
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Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
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Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
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Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots