Late in 1944, after several critical defeats and its military resources wasting away, Japan resorted to kamikaze (“divine wind”) warfare: suicide attacks by aviators upon Allied warships in the Pacific. The aircraft were turned into manned missiles launching taiatari (“body attacks”) primarily targeting aircraft carriers. Japan’s refusal to surrender combined with its loss of experienced airmen warranted, in the Japanese military’s view, the sacrifice of both pilots and planes. Above: Crewmen fight fires on the USS Saratoga, which was set ablaze after being hit by kamikaze attacks off of Iwo Jima.
