kamikaze (pilot)

Pilots of the Japanese air force in World War II who deliberately crash-dived their planes, loaded with bombs, usually on to ships of the US Navy.

A special force of suicide pilots was established 1944 to crash-dive planes, loaded with bombs, onto US and British ships. Initially many different types of aircraft were used but later the Okha, a specifically designed piloted flying bomb, was developed. Kamikaze squads caused major problems for Allied shipping, sinking or severely damaging at least six major vessels November 1944–January 1945, until their base in the Philippines was destroyed by Allied air strikes.