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October 27th, 2015, 08:30 AM
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Second Lieutenant
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Yogyakarta, Nusantara
Posts: 468
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Re: Dramatic Stories of Japan's Kamikaze Pilots
A short speech was given by the airbase commander, then they would face in the direction of Imperial Palace in Tokyo and bow deeply. A simple toast of sake in white cups was served. Then, they broke formation and dispersed sitting on the ground, chatting or singing songs, waiting for takeoff. When the time came, they pat each other on the back, wishing good luck, and head for the planes hidden in concrete shelters. As enemy air raid intensified, all Kamikaze planes were hidden and scattered around the airbase.
She remembered clearly, when these planes taxied from their hiding positions toward the airstrip for takeoff. There was an elderly couple watching intently as each plane passed by them. The woman bowed deeply for each plane. Suddenly one of the pilots opened the cockpit and waved a long red ribbon. Seeing this, the old woman raised her umbrella and waved it for the pilot to see. Then the plane took off in a southerly direction and vanished. The old woman kept waving her umbrella. It turned out that the pilot was their son. The elderly couple had come all the way from Tokyo, a 24-hour train ride despite enemy raids on railroads. They had come to see their son off when he had promised he would throw a red ribbon so they can identify him. It was a very sad scene for her.
Once these pilots vanished in the southern sky, it was not always a glorious story when they're heading toward the enemy vessels. Lieutenant Takashige Sakamoto was a guide and escort pilot for Kamikaze Missions. His tasks include leading the Kamikazes toward their targets and provide cover for them if attacked by enemy aircraft. Since inexperienced pilots weren't able to make long flights toward the targets, experienced pilots were used for this role and exempted from volunteering for suicide missions. One time late in the war, an order came to him to guide a Kamikaze flight. Four pilots were under his command, they were inexperienced, being mere graduate from Teacher's College. Upon meeting his men, he was at a loss as to what to say to these men bound to die. They appeared calm, though certainly there's a tinge of burden on their faces. Sakamoto simply ordered the men to believe in his leadership and follow his instructions at all times. Then all five planes were readied for battle, the Kamikaze planes being stripped of their cannons and radios. Due to extreme fuel shortage, all Kamikaze planes were fueled only enough for a one way mission, never to return. Once the ground crew lowered the red flag, immediately they took off and head for the Okinawan waters.
It was a long 2,5 hours flight above the ocean. The first one hour of the flight was spent cruising on very high altitude, then suddenly they dropped for an extremely low flight above the surface to avoid enemy RADARs. The air was pleasant here near the surface. Nevertheless, it was the most demanding flight, since they need to exercise extreme precision, being so close to the surface. Sakamoto felt his muscles completely stiffened. Sensing they had nearly reached the target, Sakamoto waved his hand. His men understood what it meant and removed the safety pin on their bombs. Brass particles were flying in the air, their bombs now active. All four men waved their hands at Sakamoto, signalling good bye. Suddenly they climbed steeply in the air to gain altitude. It was already dark by then, but they could see hundreds of American ships dotting the silver ocean below. Sakamoto shuddered at the sight. At once they broke formation and each Kamikaze pilot started diving toward the ship of their choosing.
Sakamoto was astounded. In an instant, there erupted glows of red, blue, and purple on the dark horizon. It was a very heavy anti-aircraft fire from the ships. At once he started heading back for the base. When he turned his view, he could see only three planes remaining being enveloped by three pillars of fire. One of them had been shot down. Soon after, an orange fireball erupted, another plane was caught and disintegrated mid air. Sakamoto gritted his teeth: these two had failed to snatch their last wishes of crashing into enemy ships. The remaining two planes kept charging like a bull, smiling at their fortune. A few seconds later, a huge white flash exploded on a far away ship. A perfect hit by one of the planes! Then followed a second explosion. Another successful hit by the last Kamikaze! These two pilots must be proud in their deaths! Feeling grim but satisfied, he sped toward home. He broke radio silence and sent a morse code "Chi-Gu-Go" signalling the mission was completed. On the long flight home, the scene of destruction flashed on his head. He could not comprehend the bravery of these doomed pilots. Despite having flown a straight 7 hours before, this Kamikaze mission had virtually sapped all his physical and emotional strength. Arriving at the base, he grimly reported that two enemy medium cruisers had been succesfully hit. Finally he retired for a long but fitful sleep.
TO BE CONTINUED ON
Heroic Stories of Japan's Kamikaze Pilots
PART 3: KAMIKAZE STORIES CHAPTER 2
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FURTHER READING:
- Even though the first official Kamikaze operation was launched in the Philippines in October 1944, but long before that some Japanese pilots had already committed themselves for such body-crashing attacks, either crashing against American bombers, or toward airbases and ships.
- Many people, especially those "Conformist historians", are saying that these pilots were forced brutally to join the Kamikaze operation. But this is a blatant lie. Kamikaze recruitment especially in the year 1944 and early 1945 were based on volunteers. Many veteran pilots and soldiers believe that the conventional method of attacks toward American war machines are just a waste of lives, since they're more likely not to cause any damage against the enemy yet these pilots wouldn't return all the same, due to overwhelming American superiority in the battlefield. They believe, with Kamikaze tactics, the chances of hitting and destroying enemy war machines were greatly increased though the pilots too won't return.
- Their willingness to die voluntarily has its roots on the Bushido culture passed down from the ages of the medieval Samurai. It is deeply planted on their souls, that better die than living a shameful and humiliated life. Even in this modern age, such philosophy is still visible, seen as the high suicide rates among the Japanese people compared to other countries; they'd rather die than shouldering a shameful life either to failure, disaster, etc. On the other hand, these pilots are willing to die because they believe in the effectiveness of the Kamikaze tactic; they sacrificed their lives on the Philippines and Okinawan waters so that their wifes and children would not have to fight the Americans on the homelands, with sharpened bamboo spears. But it must also be noted, that there were some "volunteer" pilots who did it half-heartedly. They are "officially volunteering" for Kamikaze operations, but deep down in their hearts, it is their fear of being looked down, disdained, ridiculed for being a coward or unpatriotic that compelled them to join. But one thing is clear, even though they were registered on the roster, when the time comes for a mission, each and every pilot would be checked for their willingness, their mental state, and physical health. If they're found to be not ready, they wouldn't be sent.
- But the facts on the field is that, these Japanese pilots were very enthusiastic to crash themselves upon the "hated" Americans. It was not a rare sight to see them sulking, despondent, and cursing, if they encountered bad weather or engine troubles. In contrast, they'd be very happy and cheerful once it is their turn to die. This is not a Japanese propaganda myth, but a real analysis done from either Japanese or Western historians. As an example, look at the book: The Divine Wind - Japan's Kamikaze Force in World War II, a post war alysis of interview by the armed forces of the United States, against top Japanese officials who gave birth to the Kamikaze.
- Yukio said the words as stated in the article, because he didn't believe in the effectiveness of the Kamikaze tactic. As an extremely able pilot, he firmly believed that even without crashing himself, he could still deliver a 500 Kg bomb effectively against an Aircraft Carrier, destroying it, and then return to base safely. And this is indeed proven in his Kamikaze mission. Before he crashed himself against the Aircraft Carrier St. Lo, he had successfully delivered his 500 Kg bomb that caused massive damage on the ship. Only after doing that, did he crash his own plane. This had become a controversy. But it can be understood, since Yukio Seki was a professional pilot, while at this late stage in the war, Japan no longer had pools of professional pilots. Only green pilots abound. Admiral Ohnishi deliberately chose Yukio Seki because this was the first ever Kamikaze Operation, an inaugural ceremony so to speak. Had it failed in the opening ceremony (due to inexperienced pilots), higher command in Japan (and even the Emperor himself) would not approve of any other Kamikaze operations.
BOOK REFERENCES:
1. Kamikaze: Japan's Suicide Gods (Albert Axell & Hideaki Kase)
2. Bankrupting the Enemy: The US Financial Siege of Japan Before Pearl Harbor (Edward S. Miller)
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You can also watch the documentary-video version of this article,
with Narration, musics, and sound effects, from this Youtube link:
LIKE & SHARE
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