Divine Wind: Japan's Kamikaze Force in World War II

Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1958. Presumed first edition/first printing. Hardcover. Good. No dust jacket. Ex-library. Usual library markings and bookplate. Minor page soiling/spotting.. xxii, 240, [2] p. Illustrations. Footnotes. Appendices. Index. From Wikipedia: "The Kamikaze; ("divine" or "spirit wind"), were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy warships more effectively than was possible with conventional attacks. During World War II, about 3, 860 kamikaze pilots were killed, and about 19% of kamikaze attacks managed to hit a ship. Kamikaze aircraft were essentially pilot-guided explosive missiles, purpose-built or converted from conventional aircraft. Pilots would attempt to crash their aircraft into enemy ships in what was called a "body attack" The goal of crippling or destroying Allied ships, particularly aircraft carriers, was considered to be a just reason for sacrificing pilots and aircraft. While the term "kamikaze" usually refers to the aerial strikes, it also applied to other suicide attacks. The Japanese military also used submarines, human torpedoes, speedboats and divers."