during world war 2 why did japanese kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Question

thier aircraft didnt go high enough to merit an oxygen supply, so why the crash helmets

Answer 1

A fighter pilot wears a helmet, fullstop. Whatever he intends to do during the flight is besides the point. :-) In any case, I think they needed to be able to communicate with each other to find the target etc.
Did you know that there is an association of WWII kamikaze pilots who didn't fully reach their goal? You might find mention of them if you surf a little on the net. You could ask them your question!

Answer 2

Japanese kamikaze pilots wore helmets firstly because their planes were not the best plane to fly at high altitudes in because they let a lot of cold air in and secondly because their radio headsets were in the helmets. Without these they would not have been able to keep in formation.

Answer 3

They wore helmets to protect their heads while flying, not while crashing. Flying at low altitudes can be turbulent and the canopy in which they were enclosed was small. They (Japanese) didn't want their pilots to be knocked unconscious on the way to the battle. Part of it was also radio communication as well.

Answer 4

On occasion it did keep them flying when their plane got shot up. There was a story a while back about one who lost an eye etc but managed to survive after his plane crashed in part because of his helmet, had the plane been less shot up he probably woulda put it broadside into something.

Answer 5

I do not believe that they were actually CRASH helmets, more soft fabric, leather. Basically I think there was a form of radio in that, and also to keep their ears warm,yes it was cold at that height............. BUT they more often then not wore the white bandanna with the setting sun emblem, I think! Screaming BANZAI!!! as they flew towards their targets.
I pretty sure they did not wear CRASH helmets !

Answer 6

Maybe it was to keep thier heads warm because the planes they flew in were probably a bit draughty . The pilots would not be achieving much kamikazing if they were getting hypothrmia before they got to thier target.

Answer 7

Let's assume they wanted to survive long enough to crash the plane. Wearing a helmet will protect your noggin, which you need to control the plane. I'm sure they did not want to end their life before they got to the ships.

Answer 8

They wore leather pilots cap that buttoned under the chin, not crash helmets. Our RAF pilots wore the same type of cap.

Answer 9

Plus, they still needed some safety gear since they had to survive long enough to actually crash into their targets. Otherwise, why even wear a uniform?

Answer 10

This question has been asked like a million times, search it in the answers search bar