Why do kamikaze pilots wear crash helmets

Remember what the wing commander has told you. You should return to the base jovially and without remorse. However I feel the responsibility to update the readers as follows. We have located a definite source to confirm that, in fact, Kamikaze pilots did NOT wear helmets. Mauler is right, they wore flight caps and goggles. The most important issue for these pilots was the ability to maneuver, and a helmet would have gotten in the way.

On the other hand, it seems that a significant number of pilots did return to the base, although there was generally a maximum of two to three missions before they would pick a smaller vessel and crash and burn. Someone is working on this issue now, and there seems to be a significant discrepancy between sources in America and Japan. Essentially, most US sources claim that "the planes only had enough fuel to reach the target" and some US sources even quote Japanese to that effect.

Paradoxically, some of those Japanese are Kamikaze pilots who are supposed to have survived. I have as of yet seen no explanation to how they survived if they had only enough fuel to reach the target. Japanese sources seem to differ.

It is indisputable that pilots were ordered to return when unable to hit the target: however the entire operation was carried without the sense of bureaucratic meticulosity characteristic of certain other Japanese allies in WWII which we shall not mention.

Therefore, there appears to be a huge debate as to 1. How many of these missions were successful 2. How many of these pilots returned to base and were resent later 3. What percentage of all missions resulted in a return to base. The problem of getting accurate information is compounded by the fact that the idea of a Kamikaze pilot reacts all sorts of contradictory emotions in Japan including pacifism, nationalism, shame, and pride just to name two pairs of opposites.

By Cecil Adams Sep 9, Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Dear Cecil: I read this as a tagline on the Internet, but it's still a good question: why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Why is it called a restroom, anyway? How did public libraries get started? Kamikaze attacks were a Japanese suicide bombing tactic designed to destroy enemy warships during World War II. Pilots would crash their specially made planes directly into Allied ships.

The Charter Oath of the Meiji Restoration , By this oath we set up as our aim the establishment of the national weal on a broad basis and the framing of a constitution and laws. The abolition of the feudal system and all feudal class privileges.

The enacting of a constitution and formalization of a parliamentary system of government. The formation of a national army. The adoption of universal education. The Japanese Imperial Army invaded many Asian countries.

The motivation was that they were fighting for the holy Emperor. There were many volunteers to be pilots, but experienced and valuable pilots were turned away, with most kamikaze pilots being young university students. Ceremonies were often held before missions, in which the pilots were given medals of honour. Approximately 6, Japanese soldiers died in the kamikaze missions, and all are thought to have been volunteers.

Given that they knew they were to die, people sometimes wonder why kamikaze pilots wore helmets. In fact, the helmets weren't worn to protect the pilots from dying, but to protect them from injuries during the flight so that they reached the target, to keep their heads warm and because the helmets housed radio earphones.

The helmets merely helped the pilots to complete their missions because the helmets were necessary to pilot the aircraft. In addition, many missions were unsuccessful and if this was likely, pilots were encouraged to return to base and the helmets assisted with this.

Many say that the pilots didn't wear helmets at all and no pilots did at that time , but merely wore leather flight caps and goggles, but that these were worn for the same reasons — to help the pilot complete the mission.