 |
Business | Industries | Finance | Tax |
| Index: > A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
|||||
| First Prev [ 1 2 3 ] Next Last |
However, when used in English — except perhaps in historical and scholarly works — Kamikaze is usually understood to refer to Japanese suicide attack pilots, who deliberately flew their aircraft into Allied targets, usually ships, towards the end of World War II. These air attacks were the predominant and best-known aspect of a broader use of — or plans for — suicide attacks by Japanese units, including soldiers and boat crews.
The idea of the kamikaze has been applied to attacks in other parts of the world and at later times. Examples of this include Selbstopfer in Nazi Germany in World War II and terrorism that employs suicidal attack such as the September 11 terrorist attack, and suicide bombing in Israel by Palestinians.
The japanese word for Kamikaze is 特別攻撃隊 tokubetsu kogeki tai, literally "special attack unit." It is usually abbreviated to tokkotai. Kamikaze squads that came from the navy where especially called 神風特別攻撃隊 kamikaze tokubetsu kogeki tai (or shimpu taokubetsu kogeki tai). Because of this Americans used the word “Kamikaze” to refer to all of the special attack units, although in Japan the word kamikaze is used only for the typhoons that saved Japan from the Mongol invasion fleet, while the special attack units have always been 特別攻撃隊 tokubetsu kogeki tai or short 特攻隊 tokkotai.
Japanese forces, after their defeat at the Battle of MidwayThe Battle of Midway fought in World War II, took place on June 5, 1942 ( June 4 in US time zones). The United States Navy defeated a Japanese attack against Midway Atoll, marking a turning point in the war in the Pacific theatre. Fought just a month afte in 1942, lost the momentum they had at the beginning of the Pacific WarThe Pacific War (1937 1945) is not to be confused with the War of the Pacific (1879 1884) in South America. The Pacific War which took place mostly in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in Asia, both preceded World War II and also included some of its ma (known officially as the Great Eastern Asian War in Japan). During 1943-44, Allied forces, backed by the industrial might and rich resources of the USA, were advancing rapidly towards Japan.
Japan's fighter planes were becoming outnumbered and outclassed by newer US-made planes. Because of combat losses, skilled fighter pilots were becoming extremely scarce. Finally, the low availibility of parts and fuel made even normal flight operation a problem.
On July 15July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. Events 1099 Christian soldiers take Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after a difficult siege during First Crusade. 1207 John of England, 1944Events World War II January January 4 The Battle of Monte Cassino begins. January 5 Murder of Danish playwright Kaj Munck January 17 British forces, in Italy, cross the Garigliano River. January 20 The Royal Air Force drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin;, SaipanSaipan is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, with a total area of 120 km˛ (46. The 1995 population was 52,698. The island is about 20 km (12. 5 mi) long and 9 km (5. 5 mi) wide, and its highest poi, an important Japanese base fell to Allied forces. The capture of Saipan would make it possible for US air forces, using B-29 SuperfortressThe Boeing B-29 Superfortress ( Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. It was one of the largest aircraft of World War II to see active service. When it entered service, it was one of the most advan long-range bomberA bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. For other uses of the word bomber see bomber (disambiguation). Strategic bombers are primarily designed for long-range strike missions against strategic targets to strike the Japanese mainland. After the capture of Saipan, the Japanese Imperial Headquarters predicted that the Allies would try to capture The Philippines, which were strategically important due to their location between the oil fields of Southeast Asia and Japan.
The prediction came true on October 17, 1944, when Allied forces assaulted Suluan Island, beginning the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The Imperial Japanese Navy's First Air Fleet, based at Manila was assigned the task of assisting the Japanese ships which would attempt to destroy Allied forces in Leyte Gulf. However, the First Air Fleet at that time only had 40 aircraft: 34 Mitsubishi Zero carrier-based fighters, three Nakajima B6N torpedo bombers, one Mitsubishi G4M and two Yokosuka P1Y land-based bombers, and one reconnaissance plane. The task facing the Japanese air forces seemed totally impossible. The First Air Fleet commandant, Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi decided to form a Kamikaze Special Attack Force; Onishi became known as "the father of the kamikaze". In a historic meeting at Magracut Airfield near Manila on October 19, Onishi, visiting the 201st Navy Flying Corps headquarters, suggested: "I don't think there would be any other certain way to carry out the operation than to put a 250kg bomb on a Zero, and let it crash into a US carrier, in order to disable her for a week."
| Politics | Business | Finance |
 |
 |
 |
|