Strana 9
HISTORY
On their final missions, special attack units
flew with escort aircraft to ensure that the
bomb-laden planes reached enemy ships and to
assess the outcome of their attacks. It was not
uncommon for escort pilots to refuse to return
to base and instead join the attack themselves.
The Japanese developed several escort tactics,
with two being the most commonly used.
In the first tactic, each special attack aircraft
was assigned its own escort (or lead) aircraft,
effectively serving as its wingman. Behind
them, at a higher altitude, another group of
escort fighters provided additional support.
In the second tactic, the entire formation was
led by a single reconnaissance aircraft. Behind
it, at the same altitude, flew the first group
of escort fighters, followed by special attack
aircraft arranged in four-plane V formations.
Behind them, at higher altitudes, two additional
formations of escort fighters provided cover.
The Japanese Naval Air Force established
these special attack units and ordered airmen
to crash into enemy vessels under specific
circumstances during the Allied invasion of
the Philippines in October 1944. The concept of
employing this tactic on a large scale had been
advocated by some combat unit commanders
since 1943. Such an order was unprecedented
in the history of the modern Japanese armed
forces, and it faced opposition from figures
including Emperor Hirohito, Prime Minister Tōjō,
and Vice Admiral Takijirō Ōnishi — who was
regarded as Admiral Yamamoto’s successor
in naval aviation strategy. However, the
Japanese air forces struggled against the highly
sophisticated defenses of American carrier task
forces. This challenge became evident during
the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944,
where Japanese forces suffered devastating
losses at an approximate 6:1 ratio, managing
to damage only a single battleship. This battle,
along with previous combat missions, led many
Japanese naval aviators to believe that their
chances of returning from a combat flight were
Pilots of the Óka rocket-powered aircraft from Kōkūtai 721 as-
sembling on March 21, 1945, before a combat mission from which
none of them returned. In the foreground stands Lt. Kentarō
Mitsuhashi, carrying the ashes of Lieutenant Tsutomu Kariya,
who died during the first deployment of the Óka aircraft. Kōkūtai
721 contributed the second-largest number of kamikaze pilots
using Zero aircraft, including pilots who were originally assigned
to missions with the Óka. Photo: US Naval Heritage Command
The first aircraft carrier to be sunk by a kamikaze attack was USS St. Lo (CVE-63) on October 25, 1944.
The ship was hit probably by plane of Lt. Yukio Seki. Photo: US Naval Heritage Command
INFO Eduard
9
April 2025