Kamikaze pilots willingly sacrificed themselves by crashing explosive-laden aircraft into Allied naval ships during World War II to protect Japan. They were mainly young, inexperienced university students with little flight training. While kamikaze attacks managed to sink around forty American ships and cause many casualties, they failed to take down any large aircraft carriers and hundreds of Japanese lives were lost through the suicidal missions.

2. Kamikaze In Japanese the word kamikaze means “Divine Wind.” Kamikaze pilots were willing to sacrifice their own lives for the greater good of their country.

3. Purpose Kamikaze pilots used their own aircraft to purposely fly into allied forces. They were used in attacks against Naval ships while fighter planes gave them support.

4. Effective Warfare Kamikaze planes were loaded with at least a half ton of explosives so they would cause more damage. One kamikaze plane could do more damage than ten fighter planes firing machine guns.

6. Requirements To be a Kamikaze Pilot: A soldier must make loyalty his obligation A soldier must make propriety his way of life A soldier must highly esteem military valor A soldier must have a high regard for righteousness A soldier must have a simple life

7. Training Japanese kamikaze pilots often had little training or experience flying. Experienced pilots were not allowed to be kamikaze pilots because they had to train other pilots. Most kamikaze pilots were in their late teens, mainly university students.

9. Honor Japanese kamikaze pilots emphasized their honor to their country and Emperor. Pilots felt honored to give their lives for their country. In Japan is was honorable to die by suicide instead of the enemy killing you.

10. Successes of Kamikaze’s Kamikaze pilots managed to sink around forty American Naval ships in the Pacific Many American casualties resulted because of kamikaze pilots. Hundreds of Japanese lives were taken, though they wanted to give their lives.

11. Failures of Kamikaze’s No choice but suicide Many students drafted to perform in Kamikaze’s Failed to sink any large aircraft carriers Did not have perfect timing

12. References http://www.ehow.com/about_4565760_japanese-kamikaze-pilots.html http://www.essortment.com/information-kamikaze-pilots-21610.html http://www.ww2pacific.com/suicide.html http://www.kyokipress.com/wings/kamikaze.html http://www.2worldwar2.com/kamikaze-pilots.htm http://www.pbs.org/perilousfight/psychology/the_kamikaze_threat/