Watch WW2 Combat Footage and Kamikaze Attacks on US Navy in Color During 1945 Battle of Okinawa

During the final months of World War II, the Battle of Okinawa became one of the deadliest campaigns in the Pacific. A major threat came from the air—Japanese kamikaze pilots who carried out suicide missions against American ships. This combat footage, shown in color, gives a clear view of the chaos and danger faced by U.S. Navy crews during this period.

One-Way Missions Against the Fleet

The word “kamikaze” translates to “divine wind,” but to U.S. forces, these were suicide planes. Japanese pilots, often wearing red headbands, flew aircraft loaded with explosives and fuel directly into American ships. Some of them were barely out of school, only 16 years old. They were given basic flight training, a sash, and a mission—destroy American sea power at any cost.

These attacks were part of a larger effort to weaken the U.S. Navy and isolate troops on Okinawa. Kamikaze strikes caused serious damage to many vessels and killed thousands of sailors. Despite the growing losses, the Japanese continued this tactic until the end of the war.

Fighting Back From Land and Sea

U.S. gunners and pilots tried to stop the kamikazes before they reached their targets. Fighter planes scrambled off the decks of American carriers, rising through heavy clouds to intercept the incoming threat. Many kamikazes were shot down, but not all. Some managed to get close enough to crash into the hulls of ships or near the deck, causing fires and explosions.

As the footage shows, crews fought without rest—some with guns, others with axes, foam, or fire hoses. Every attack brought confusion, smoke, and danger. This color film remains one of the most vivid records of the kamikaze campaign during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa.

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