Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki, commander of Imperial Japanese Navy 5th Air Fleet and director of "Thunder God Corps" with Yokosuka D4y3, prior to leading a force of 11 such aircraft (with 22 crew) on a final kamikaze mission intended for US shipping off Okinawa, 15 August 1945.  Ugaki was aware of the Emperor's surrender announcement at the time - but had not received the official order.  He therefore felt justified in joining his "fallen cherry blossoms" in death - bringing a further 22 "cherry blossoms" to the ground in the process.  The mission failed, and the fate of most of the aircraft is uncertain.  In any case, none returned.

Last Kamikaze

Ohka manned flying bomb preserved at the RAF Museum, Cosford.  These were rocket-powered aircraft with a large bomb incorporated in the nose section. Range was short, so that the manned bomb had to be carried close to their targets slung beneath two-engined bombers.  The Ohka then separated from its "porter", leaving the suicide pilot to guide his craft on the one-way trip to the target.  This example was captured on Okinawa, April 1945.

Kamikaze rocket airplane

lieutenant general in the japanese imperial army he commanded the 19th infantry division during the battle of lake khasan against the soviet union in 1938, in the hills to the west of Lake Khasan Sato's forces expelled Russian troops from the hill in a night attack, the execution of which became a Japanese model for assaults on fortified positions. Later, he participated in the Battle of Imphal during Burma Campaign in 1944.


