[Piquaboy]

I guess that those WW2 suicide pilots weren't really suicide pilots. They just weren't very good pilots. I always wondered how come they wore helmets if they were going to kill themselves.

[AmericanInTokyo]

See my reply to somebody, right after your post to me. Apples and oranges my friend. The govt. of Japan says these things, true, but not the press which often adopts a position opposed to the Japanese government. This same press has more honest and forthright books and articles w/photos out in Japanese on Imperial War intracacies, details and sheer terror of Japanese atrocities than you could ever imagine. Irrelevant. Your comments have little to do with this discussion today.

[El Gato]

I always wondered how come they wore helmets if they were going to kill themselves.

To keep their head warm. Those helmets were not for impact protection. They were more like fur lined leather hats with ear flaps, than a modern "brain bucket". Oh they might save a brusing in light turbuence, which would still be useful on your way to fly your aircraft into a ship.