OPERATION KIKUSUI

Floating Chrysanthemums

By March 1945, Japan was a nation isolated and under siege, her once mighty Empire had now been reduced to a few unimportant and isolated island strongholds.

After a long and bitter campaign of reconquest, the Americans were preparing to assault the island of Okinawa, a mere three hundred and forty miles from mainland Japan. Its capture was vital to secure airfields and deep water ports necessary for the inevitable invasion of Japan itself.

On April 6th 1945, all remaining wings of the Japanese Imperial air force launched operation Kikusui, directed against the United States 5th fleet anchored within Hagushi Bay on the western approaches to Okinawa.

In attack formations numbering in the hundreds, Japanese planes began attacks focused on the American carriers positioned at the center of the enemy fleet. For nine straight days the Kamikazes attacked, severally damaging the U.S. Hancock, Intrepid and Enterprise while sinking numerous other vessels.

On May 4th, the British carrier HMS Formidable was hit by a single Kamikaze, eight crew members were killed and forty nine wounded. She was struck again on the 9th  along with the carrier HMS Victorious and the Battleship HMS Howe.

On May 11th, the commander of task force fifty eight, Admiral Marc Mitscher was aboard his carrier flagship USS Bunker Hill when it was struck by a Kamikaze pilot killing three hundred and fifty sailors.

The effect of this new form of warfare on American morale was immediate and devastating. The surviving crew members were quickly becoming exhausted from standing twenty four hour watches against potential future attacks.

Kamikaze attacks would continue throughout May and June with deadly effect. However by mid July the attacks became less fierce and more sporadic as the Japanese began to run out of operational aircraft and traine pilots.

The situation now became desperate as the Japanese high command approved the enlistment of sixteen year old youths still attending aviation school, who were now instantly promoted, given there flight wings and assigned to the Kamikaze wing.

At this stage of the battle however, air worthy aircraft could no longer be found and the few which did get airborne were shot down well within the American destroyer pickets defensive perimeter. 

By late June the entire operation was discontinued when Japan had run out of servicable aircraft. After an eighty two day battle, the Americans and her British allies had captured Okinawa and Japan had to now prepare for the anticipated defense of the Japanese homland itself. 

For the loss of two thousand brave Japanese pilots and there aircraft, the U.S. Navy suffered thirty four ships sunk and three hundred and sixty damaged with five thousand five hundred sailors killed.

The U.S. Naval air wing also lost seven hundred and sixty three aircraft, all of which were destroyed on there carrier decks during the Kamikaze attacks.