Why did Kamikaze pilots wear crash helmets?

Answer 1

it minimized brain splatter

Answer 2

Pilots in WW2 didn't wear crash helmets they wore leather caps. The caps protected the head from the sun's rays coming through the cockpit. The cap also contained the ear phones for radio communication. Essential when most kamikazes were so poorly trained they needed a guide pilot to take them out to the fleet or they would get lost. Crash helmets hit the scene in the very late 1940's when jets started to arrive in military service.

Answer 3

If they missed their target, the helmet would protect them (though only for a short period) as the plane was packed with explosives. sometimes, the aircraft woudn't even reach their target, they did have more of a tendency to crash and burn on take-off rather than reach their intended target (which usually happened to be the deck of a British or U.S aircraft carrier) other times, the pilot wasn't sucessful at getting to his target because of enemy fighters, so that is why the pilot had to wear the crash helmet (although most of them refused to do so, because then they couldn't wear the Red Sun bandanna. (which for most World War 2 Japanese pilots, was considered an honour to wear.) Also, a little known fact about the Japanese pilot during the Second World War, if he bailed out, he had to either find a rifle, or take one with him in the aircraft. he Japanese never surrendered!

Answer 4

they didn't wear crash helmets as such, but leather flying helmets, these contained their radio speakers, to enable them to communicate with the aircraft carriers etc, that they took off from, so that the japanese fleet were aware of the enemy strength, and if needed could send more planes. Although very honourable from the japanese point of view Kamikaze pilots were very much a waste of time and of life, very few actually got through to their targets, most were shot down before hitting the ships they were aimed at, However the pilots felt it their duty to lay down their own lives for the emperor, bringing his wrath down upon the enemies of NIPPON, hence Kamikaze == Divine Wind.

Answer 5

In the ww2 no pilots on any side wore crash helmets.
What they did wear were leather flying helmets that fitted close to the head. They were used to house the head phones from radio and if appropriate internal aircraft telephone.
The throat mike for sending speech messages and the oxygen mask could be clipped to it. The Japanese needed the radio link to guide them if necessary, the oxygen to ensure they did not black out on the dive and the general hat affair to keep some heat in as is was very cold flying high.

Answer 6

Actually there was no such thing as a "crash helmet" (as we know them), - at that time. They were wearing leather "skull caps"- (so to speak)! The caps had built in earphones in them so they could hear radio orders and communicate! The caps also kept their heads warm when they were flying (every thousand feet you go up- above sea level,-- the temperature drops 2 degrees!) You will also note that they wore leather jackets with fur collars (same reason). a very cold (or frozen) pilot isn't much use, - should the need for quick action occour!

Answer 7

Actually, it wasn't a crash helmet. Aviation "helmets" at that time were merely leather, more for warmth than anything.
The only reason a one-way ticket holder would wear one is that it also held the ear pieces for the radio.

Answer 8

I watched a documentary on the history channel where they interviewed an ex- kamikaze pilot, i thought ????

Answer 9

eastern kamikaze pilots wore helmets at the start pondering their planes weren't the useful plane to fly at severe altitudes in using fact the they permit extremely various chilly air in and secondly using fact their radio headsets have been in the helmets. with out those they does no longer have been waiting to maintain in formation.

Answer 10

They didn't. They wore leather flying helmets, which allowed them to wear radio head phones and clip on an oxygen mask.

Answer 11

they didn't wear crash helments becuase crash helments doeasn't even exist that time ther wear only that leather gogles they wear. but kamikaze pilots also wear a bandana with the japanese flag.