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from the same unit, Kōkūtai 721. However, the
Zeros were not just escorts — they were also
used as special attack aircraft, armed with 500
kg bomb. Many of these were A6M5c models,
modified to reduce weight by removing their
20mm wing-mounted cannons.
The formation of these units, named Tenmu,
stemmed from the fact that a considerable
number of pilots had been trained to fly Ōka
aircraft but, due to a shortage of Betty bombers,
had no way to carry out their final missions.
In addition to several Tenmu units, in May these
pilots were reassigned to other special attack
units known as Shōwa, Shinken, and Shichisei,
which had previously included pilots from the
Yatabe, Genzan (II), and Omura Kōkūtai training
units.
A member of Tenmu Unit No. 5, PO2c Setsuo
Ishino, received special military honors — albeit
from an adversary he likely never expected.
On April 11, 1945, he took off from Kanoya
Base shortly after noon in a Zero Model 52c.
His original target was the aircraft carrier
USS Intrepid (CV-11), but accurate anti-aircraft
fire forced him to change course and head for
the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) instead.
He aimed his Zero at the starboard side of the
ship, but the 500 kg bomb he was carrying failed
to detonate. As a result, the battleship sustained
only minimal damage, and no American sailors
were killed. Ishino’s remains were found aboard
the ship. Despite objections from his crew, USS
Missouri’s captain, William M. Callahan, decided
to bury the Japanese aviator at sea with full
honors, including the use of a hastily made
Japanese flag. (Note 2)
A month later, on May 11, 1945, two members
of Shōwa Unit No. 7 successfully struck the
aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), causing
severe damage. The attack is credited to Seizō
Yasunori and Kiyoshi Ogawa, both members
of Hikōtai 306, a fighter squadron assigned to
Kōkūtai 721. They took off on their final mission
at 06:40 from Kanoya Base in southern Kyūshū.
Their Zeros hit Bunker Hill just after 10:00 AM,
resulting in 396 sailors killed and 264 wounded
—the highest number of U.S. casualties on
a single vessel caused by this type of attack.
The carrier was forced to return to the United
States for repairs and did not return to combat.
(Note 3)
Zero trainers in Okinawa battle
The two-seat A6M2-K Zero trainer was also
used in special attack operations. These aircraft
came from training units that also organized
special attack units, including Tsukuba Kōkūtai,
Yatabe Kōkūtai, Genzan (II) Kōkūtai, Ōmura
Kōkūtai, and Kasumigaura Kōkūtai. As these
were based on the Zero Type 21, they were
equipped with weaker engines and carried
250 kg bomb mounted under the fuselage.
Assessment of the special attacks at Okinawa
During the battle for Okinawa, from early
April to late June 1945, the Japanese Naval and
Army Air Forces deployed approximately 1,800
aircraft in special attack operations, resulting
in the deaths of around 3,000 airmen. By the
spring of 1945, some airmen were no longer
volunteering for these missions and were
HISTORY
A Japanese airman helps tie a hachimaki headband on his comrade, symbolizing courage.
It was often worn by kamikaze pilots, but it was also used on other occasions, even
outside of military settings. Photo: US Naval Heritage Command
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force used various types of aircraft for
kamikaze attacks; this photo shows D3A Val dive bombers during the defense
of the Philippines. Both the Army and Navy air forces carried out standard
bombing attacks on enemy vessels alongside kamikaze missions.
Photo: US Naval Heritage Command
Wearing flight jackets with the VF-9 insignia, Hellcat pilots pose with a sign commemorating their fifty victories
over Japanese aircraft. From left to right: Lieutenant Harris E. Mitchell (9 victories at Okinawa, 10 total), Lieutenant
Junior Grade Clinton L. Smith (5 victories at Okinawa, 6 total), Lieutenant Junior Grade James B. French (10 victo
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ries at Okinawa, 11 total), and Lieutenant Eugene A. Valencia (12 victories, including 5 at Okinawa, 23 total). Valencia
was ranked as the top Allied ace in combat against kamikaze aircraft. Photo: US Naval Heritage Command
INFO Eduard16
April 2025