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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Fighting the Kamikazes (1944-1945) - May 23rd, 2003
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/wwii/facts/kamikaze.txt ^ | CE1 Robert A. Germinsky, USNR

Posted on 05/23/2003 5:37:11 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

.................................................................................................................................

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The Divine Wind:
Japanese Kamikazes


In the 13th century, as legend goes, a Mongol emperor massed a large fleet for the invasion of Japan. The Japanese nation had little to defend itself with, and a Mongol conquest seemed certain. As the fleet massed outside Tokyo Bay gathered to attack, a typhoon came up and either sank all the ships or blew them back to China. This storm, which the Japanese believed was sent by the gods to save their nation, was called "Divine Wind." In Japanese, the name is "Kamikaze."

By August of 1944, the air arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy had very few bases and aircraft carriers, and even fewer planes with which to carry out offensive operations against the American fleet. Certain admirals in the Japanese navy began exploring the use of rather extraordinary "special tactics" they felt would best utilize the dwindling number of aircraft and pilots at their disposal.



Vice Admiral Takajiro Ohnishi, Japanþs foremost expert on naval aviation and at one time Admiral Isoroko Yamamotoþs close advisor on the subject, formulated a plan wherein Japanese pilots would suicide-crash their planes into American ships. This tactic, which Ohnishi hoped would save Japan, was called kamikaze, in honor of the typhoon that saved his country from invasion. The formal name of the unit that had this mission was the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps.

The kamikazes were unique in military history. Death in war is inevitable, but Japanese naval doctrine prior to 1944 forbid carrying out a mission unless there was some chance of survival. Adhering to the code of bushido (code of the warrior), all Japanese military men were prepared to die for the Emperor. This stemmed from the Japanese ideal of "The Path of Eternal Duty," the belief that family and individual welfare were not important when compared to the long history of the Empire. Japanese literature is replete with examples of warriors who died a glorious death on behalf of the Emperor.

The kamikazes, however, were the first unit to actually seek death in battle. This concept was repugnant in the West, and there were those on the Japanese Imperial General Staff who objected to this strategy. They felt this step was needless, a waste of men, and an acknowledgement that Japan had lost the war. In spite of this opposition, Ohnishi lobbied strongly for his plan, and it was finally, if reluctantly, accepted.



The American invasion of Leyte (the Philippines) in October 1944 saw the debut of the kamikazes. The escort carriers guarding the transports and beaches had the dubious honor of being the first American naval units to encounter the Divine Wind.

"Sacred warriors" sank the escort carrier St. Lo and damaged several other ships. Their efforts had little effect on the invasionþs outcome. The damage they inflicted, however, was a prelude to later and more effective massed attacks, particularly at Okinawa.

The kamikazes continued attacks against American shipping through the remainder of the campaign in the Philippines. During the invasion of Iwo Jima, they continued the strategy of attacking shipping, both combatant and transport. Some escort carriers were sunk and some major fleet combatants, particularly the aircraft carrier Franklin, were severely damaged. However, Iwo Jima was taken and secured.

The significant point about these two campaigns was that these kamikaze attacks were carried out independently of other Japanese defense measures. Okinawa was different.



At Okinawa, which was invaded by American troops on Easter Sunday, 1945, the kamikazes were incorporated from the beginning as an integral part of the defense of the island. Being the closest land to the Empire yet invaded, Japanese strategists were determined to hold the island at all costs.

Kamikaze operations at Okinawa were the fiercest of the war, and the most frightening, in view of their intensity. The Okinawa kamikazes were called "kikusui," meaning "floating chrysanthemum," in honor of the imperial symbol of Japan. From the onset of the invasion until the end of the Okinawa campaign, over 1,900 suicide attacks took place. The largest number of attacks was carried out during the period April 6-7, when 355 planes participated.

American strategy was revised to deal with the threat. An outer picket ring of radar-equipped ships, usually destroyers, destroyer escorts and minesweepers, was established to provide early warning of incoming kamikaze raids. It was hoped that with enough advance warning, fleet units would be able to disperse in time to repel the threat. These picket ships bore the greatest brunt of the kamikaze attacks. They were often kamikaze targets because from the air, the inexperienced Japanese flyers mistook them for battleships and cruisers.



One of these picket ships underwent an amazing ordeal in the waters off Okinawa on April 16, 1945. The destroyer Laffey, under the command of Commander (later Rear Admiral) F. Julian Becton, was assigned to radar picket station No. 1 that day. In a period of 80 minutes, Laffey underwent 22 separate attacks by 32 planes. She was struck by six of them, suffered four bomb hits and was continuously strafed. Her gunners destroyed at least eight of the attackers. At the conclusion of the attack, only four of Laffeyþs 20mm mounts were still firing. Her main batteries were destroyed, her stern was almost awash, her rudder was jammed, and she was barely able to make steam.

Laffeyþs gallant crew, under the direction of Becton, who vowed that he would never abandon his ship while one of its guns still fired, made heroic efforts to save their stricken vessel. They not only kept Laffey afloat, but managed to bring her home to Seattle, Washington, under her own power for repairs. Laffey continued in service until well after World War II, when she was finally and honorably decommissioned.

Were the kamikazes successful? From a strategic and tactical point of view, the answer is "no." Ohnishi hoped they would turn the tide of the war in Japanþs favor, and allow at least a negotiated peace. He had hoped that the Americans would psychologically be unable to deal with this type of threat. He was wrong on both counts.



The kamikazes operating during the Okinawa campaign did take a terrible toll on American lives and ships. At the beginning of the suicide operations, there was stunned disbelief on the part of American sailors that other men would be willing to kill themselves in order to destroy them. Because the threat was continuous, shipsþ personnel were forced to remain at battle stations for days on end. Fatigue began to take its toll, on ships and men. Sleep and food, often taken for granted, became precious to American sailors.

In summation, the Okinawa kikusui operation damaged 368 ships and sunk 32. Suicide planes killed 4,900 American sailors and wounded over 4,800. These were the heaviest losses incurred in any naval campaign in World War II. Over 2,000 Japanese pilots lost their lives in the suicide attacks off Okinawa. Because the many kamikaze attacks at Okinawa did not stem the American advance, Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki, commander of the Japanese 5th Air Fleet, wanted to atone to the Emperor and the kamikazes who died under his command. He ordered three planes readied, intending to lead a final suicide attack against Okinawa. The attack was scheduled to leave Japanþs Kyushu Island on Aug. 15, 1945, the day the Emperor announced the decision to surrender.



When Ugaki went to his plane, 10 others were revved up on the runway with it. Questioning this, Ugaki was told by the squadron leader that when the fleet commander himself led the attack, every squadron plane would follow. True to the code of the warrior, the 11 took off for Okinawa.

Symbolic of the futility of the kamikaze attacks in changing the warþs outcome, the mission did not succeed. The plane flown by Ugaki fell harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean.

Late in the evening of Aug. 15, Ohnishi, the man who sowed the Divine Wind, committed hara kiri, the ritual suicide of the Japanese warrior.

Thanks to Freeper Gridlock for suggesting this Thread



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: divinewind; freeperfoxhole; japanese; kamikaze; marines; michaeldobbs; navy; okinawa; pacific; veterans; wwii
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To: snippy_about_it
Thanks. Right nowe I'm trying to fight with a severe AP ammo shortage. Don't have a full loadout to the whole Platoon. :-(
121 posted on 05/23/2003 7:09:56 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: Light Speed
Damn Those were impressive ships!!
122 posted on 05/23/2003 7:12:05 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: SAMWolf
I'm here for ya! LOL.

Will these work?

123 posted on 05/23/2003 7:20:33 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: snippy_about_it
Only if they're 75 mm. I'm still in PzIV-Gs
124 posted on 05/23/2003 7:25:22 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: SAMWolf
So I says to him, come out of there tank boy, lets dance and he says he needs ammo for the boys...

Foxhole Foxette vs. Tank...hmmm - Ain't that a kick in the head!

Here's your 75mm ammo..Have fun, I require sleep. :)


125 posted on 05/23/2003 7:44:53 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: SAMWolf
Good read. I would only note that the despite what the article says, FRANKLIN was not hit by a kamikaze. It was a conventional attack by a single bomber that caught her with a fully fueled and armed strike ready for take off on deck. It was almost like what happened to the Japanese carriers at Midway. She was the most the heavily damaged carrier to survive the war, over 700 dead if I remember.

Even after Okinawa, the Japanese still had thousands of aircraft available for kamikaze attacks if Kyushu had been invaded. They had also learned their lesson and were planning on making the transports, not the warships, their primary targets. It would have real bad.

126 posted on 05/23/2003 7:46:19 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: facedown; SAMWolf; Light Speed
The photo in the main post labled "machine gun in 40mm mount" is from that same hit on MISSOURI.
127 posted on 05/23/2003 7:54:57 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: snippy_about_it
LOL! Never get between a tanker and his tank!

Now that I have the ammo, I can dance you know. Have to take care of my men first.
128 posted on 05/23/2003 7:55:30 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: snippy_about_it
LOL! I love the song!!
129 posted on 05/23/2003 7:56:26 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: SAMWolf
Have to take care of my men first.

I wouldn't have it any other way!

130 posted on 05/23/2003 7:58:11 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: SAMWolf
Knew you would. :)

I'll let you and GatorNavy hash out the story and I'm going to hit the hay!

Good night Sam.
131 posted on 05/23/2003 8:00:41 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: GATOR NAVY
Thanks Gator Navy, good catch.

I don't think the pictures claim the Franklin was hit by a Kamikaze. It just said damaged after an air attack. Although the damage was extensive. I still think that catching the Japanese at Midway with the carriers ready to launch was a miracle.
132 posted on 05/23/2003 8:02:03 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: snippy_about_it
It's the time zone difference. I always get here late :-(
133 posted on 05/23/2003 8:03:04 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: GATOR NAVY
Thanks Gator Navy. Wasn't sure what ship that picture was from
134 posted on 05/23/2003 8:03:43 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: snippy_about_it
Good Night Snippy. Thanks for the ammo and the dance. Nice dress.
135 posted on 05/23/2003 8:04:37 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: SAMWolf; facedown; Light Speed
The upper half of the pilot's body was also found on the deck. He was given a military funeral.
136 posted on 05/23/2003 8:08:02 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: GATOR NAVY
That part I heard about when I toured the Missouri. i heard some of the Officiers weren't too thrilled about it either.
137 posted on 05/23/2003 8:18:22 PM PDT by SAMWolf (The cost of feathers has risen. Now even down is up!)
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To: SAMWolf
What I read is that the ship's chaplain was the one who pushed it. I think the story might have been different if they had suffered casualties.
138 posted on 05/23/2003 8:23:21 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: GATOR NAVY
Learned of this somewhat comical event at reunion of USS Isherwood.

In the morning of April 16th off IE SHIMA...USS Isherwood DD-520 hooked up with the wagons of TF-54 in screen postion just aft and outboard of Battleship USS Texas.

A Kamikaze appeared out of nowhwere..[nearby Island of IE Shima probably masked its approach from radar].

DD-520 opened up on the kamikaze making hits..but had to break fire as her guns were angled too close to Texas to continue...that is..except for 1- 20 mm which continued to hammer away as DD-520's guns fell silent.

The story gets comical here..as the "Operator" of that 20mm mount was not a man assigned to that duty station...but in fact..was a cook from below decks!

Some of the men had general quarters duties..but they were not gun duty..this cook had badgered a buddy..to let him slip topside and fire the 20 when the officers weren't around.

So..the Cook hammered away at the kamikaze....low and behold..it broke apart and crashed into the sea close behind USS Texas's fantail.

Cookie got a big cheer....then he got directed to the Captain and execs looking at him from the flying bridge;

Cookie was headed for Captains Mast and a courtmartial...end of days for cookie.

As cookie was getting shredded before the Captain a TBS message came in from USS Texas,with a congrats from their Captain..and some Other Brass who were impressed with DD-520's shootin irons.

Cookie kept his job..and stayed aboard ship..the call from USS Texas saved his bacon. : )

139 posted on 05/23/2003 8:38:25 PM PDT by Light Speed
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To: Light Speed
Ha! Good story.
140 posted on 05/23/2003 8:43:10 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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