Were there any American suicide attacks in World War Two?

Answer 1

American armed forces didn't use "kamikaze" as the Japanese forces did in the Second World War. However, there were a few cases of Navy pilots who choosed to die in action when they could save their lives. One of these men was the Lieutenant Powers of the Lexington carrier. Powers had always told that he he wanted to hit a Japanese carrier. On 8 May 1942, during the battle in the Coral Sea, he attacked the Shokaku carrier dropping his bomb at just 50 meters of range. He knew that at that range there was no chance to save. More dramatic was the action of Captain Richard Fleming of the Marine Corps. On 5 June 1942 its plane was hit by Japanese antiaircraft fire, but instead of landing on the sea close to an American ship, he preferred to throw on the Mikuma heavy cruiser.

Answer 2

No Americans never used this tactic in any war! But the Japanese pilots would deliberately fly their planes onto US Navy battleships so that would be a suicide attack. They viewed this as an act of honor.

Answer 3

That depends on what you consider "suicide".

First, the US Military would never use such a tactic. It is not good for the morale of the troops. Now, there are times when commanders, knowing that troops will die, but the end results out weight the risk, send troops to a front. It is possible that you could consider this a "suicide attack", but I wouldn't. Suicide, to me, is the knowingly and purposefully ending of one's own life. Troops who know that there is a 80-90% chance that they might die in an attack, don't go into it like its suicide. They go in following their orders, exercising the training they received and hoping for the best.

When a soldier, airman, marine or sailor jumps on a live grenade to save his brothers and sisters, would you call it suicide? I wouldn't, I'd call it honor, courage and commitment.... OOH-RAH!

Answer 4

No, but the Doolitle raid on Tokyo was pretty much expected to be a one way mission as the planes were launched from an aircraft carrier and as they were B25 Mitchell Bombers there was no chance they would be able to land back on it afterwards.

The plan of course was that they would try and fly to China but everyone knew it was unfeasible, although some actually made it, much to everyones surprise!!

Answer 5

I don't think any were explictly named, but some, especially later island invasions in the Pacific, had a mortality rate over 90% for the first off the barges.

Answer 6

i know there were incidents of people intentionally taking action with no chance of surviving in order to accomplish a particular mission. one story i recall was about a navy fighter pilot named o'hare for whom chicagos o'hare airport is named. you might read up on his story..it's quite interesting. i know of other incidents of navy pilots intentionally crashing their planes into japanese ships. this has never been asked of anyone to my knowledge and there have never been Americans trained or organized to perform such a mission....these were acts in the heat of battle when these men made the choice that the mission was more important than their own lives.

as i recall o'hare was on a mission with his squadron when he developed engine problems. he dropped out and was returning to his carrier when he ran into a large group of enemy aircraft headed for his carrier. he dove into the middle firing his guns and continued passing back and forth killing as many as he could until he ran out of ammunition...he then circled and flew into the middle again aiming his plane so as to hit as many enemy aircraft as he could...that's balls. he didn't even need the promise of 80 virgins..just saving his ship.

Answer 7

only american pilots that new they were not going to make it home alive, either because there planes were too damaged or something of that nature

Answer 8

"The object of war is not to die for one's country--it's to make the other bastard die for his."

----Gen. Patton

Answer 9

NO!!!