[gridlock]

Great job on the thread. I'm in awe of the men who endured such attacks. I never knew that there were so many Kamikazes. I had always assumed that they were somewhat rare. To think that there were 355 Kamikaze sorties in at two day period, April 6-7, 1945, just boggles the mind.

I appreciate your work on this thread bringing us some history that is, if not forgotten, largely misunderstood.

Unfortunately, today, it is also topical.

[SAMWolf]

Thank you Gridlock for suggesting the topic.

[Light Speed]

The Island of IE SHIMA...part of the Okinawan chain had a large strato Volcano which looked a bit like Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

Most of the Kamikaze pilots after the first Big assult wave on April 6th were novice fliers..many could not navigate.

The Destroyers assigned to Radar picket in the North and North West corner of the outlying Picket ring 75 miles out recieved the brunt of the Kamikaze attacks..which came from Formosa and China,allong with the south route from Japan.

The Kamikazes were told to look for the volcanic mountian as a vector point..then they would break in to the inner Ping line[Sub hunting]..or inner transport area.

The ping line stations near IE SHIMA.. A34A TO A38A were constantly assailed.

Survival time on outer radar picket screen in this area was less than 4 days.

Eventually..the Army set up a bank of radar guided artillery on IE SHIMA..late April i think.

Still...Chester Nimitz pressed the U.S. ground Commander on Okinawa..."For God sake hurry up..I'm loosing a Ship a day"!