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Kamikaze pilots: In addition to only being given enough fuel for a one-way ride, did they also strip out anything from the planes or their uniforms that would do them no good on their journey? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by 58008@lemmy.world to c/askhistorians@lemmy.world

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For example, I don't imagine them needing a handgun, food supplies, gear for camping, and so on. Would such items have been taken away and reused on soldiers/pilots who were expected to survive awhile longer? How would the interior of their planes differ from those of regular pilots?

Cheers!

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[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

They had no landing gear. The planes were launched from a sling.

[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Is it ok to ask a follow up question? I've been wondering this lately.

Why didn't they eject and let the plane crash by itself? Surely there's a way to aim the plane?

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ejection seats hadn't been invented at the time.

[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 2 points 2 weeks ago

Oh didn't know that.

[–] merde@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

you're writing about a culture that practised seppuku!

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, it was ritualized suicide. Anything in service of the god-emperor