kamikaze

Japanese kamikaze pilots—kamikazes—would attempt to intentionally crash their aircraft, often laden with explosives, bombs, torpedoes and full fuel tanks, into Allied ships. The aircraft’s normal functions, to deliver torpedoes or bombs or shoot down other aircraft, were put aside, and the planes were converted to what were essentially manned missiles, in a desperate attempt to reap the benefits of greatly increased accuracy and payload over that of normal bombs. The goal of crippling as many Allied capital ships as possible was considered critical enough to warrant the sacrifice of aviators and aircraft.