History
The Final, Emotional Letters from Japanese Kamikaze Pilots
How people came to give their life for their nation in such a deliberate fashion.
Tomorrow, one believer in democracy will leave this world. He may look lonely, but his heart is filled with satisfaction — 2nd Lieutenant Uehara, Kamikazi Pilot
Kiyoshi Ogawa’s Mitsubishi Zero fighter plunged downward.
The wind howled at its sides as smoke plumed around it. The 22-year-old’s hands remained locked on the plane’s wheel.
Below him, the USS Bunker Hill loomed larger. He released his bomb. It zipped down towards the deck of the carrier. It hit, exploding, ravaging its flight quarters. Then, he accelerated towards the flight tower. His plane hit it in a mountain of flame. The ship’s deck was decimated.
Between his and one other’s pilot’s kamikaze attacks, 393 American sailors died and the carrier was disabled for the remaining war. It sent a terrifying signal to the American military: you may win, but it will be at great cost.
The path to becoming a kamikaze pilot was very different than many realize. And their final, emotional letters reveal what they thought of their decision.
