The attacks began in October 1944, at a time when the war was looking increasingly bleak for the Japanese. Some kamikazes were still able to hit their targets even after their aircraft had been crippled. The Japanese considered the goal of damaging or sinking large numbers of Allied ships to be a just reason for suicide attacks kamikaze was more accurate than conventional attacks and often caused more damage. About 19% of kamikaze attacks were successful. Pilots would attempt to crash their aircraft into enemy ships in what was called a "body attack" ( tai-atari) in aircraft loaded with bombs, torpedoes or other explosives. Kamikaze aircraft were essentially pilot-guided explosive missiles, purpose-built or converted from conventional aircraft. About 3,800 kamikaze pilots died during the war, and more than 7,000 naval personnel were killed by kamikaze attacks. Kamikaze ( 神風, pronounced "divine wind" or " spirit wind"), officially Shinpū Tokubetsu Kōgekitai ( 神風特別攻撃隊, "Divine Wind Special Attack Unit"), were a part of the Japanese Special Attack Units of military aviators who flew suicide attacks for the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, intending to destroy warships more effectively than with conventional air attacks. Kiyoshi Ogawa (left), 22, and Seizō Yasunori, 21, the pilots who flew their aircraft into Bunker Hill
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