World War II Database

1. leigh williams says:
5 Jan 2014 02:54:44 PM

Why are what have always been known as kamakazi now refered to as special attack aircraft? ls it the new term or your phrase?

2.  C. Peter Chen says:
5 Jan 2014 06:30:45 PM

Leigh, first of all, thanks for visiting WW2DB!

In Japanese, suicide attack units are named "tokubetsu kogekitai", which translates to "special attack units".

What westerners traditionally referred to as "kamikaze" is actually the alternate pronunciation of "shinpu" (divine wind), which is the official name of suicide attack unit of Japanese Naval Aviation only.

While "special attack", "shinpu", and "kamikaze" are all correct in their own contexts, WW2DB chose to use the official name directly translated from Japanese.

3. Mgr. Tomáš Bouzek says:
5 Jan 2017 01:05:45 PM

Full support, "special attack plane" is correct. During battle for Okinawa, their were also call kikusui. How was is with this name? I like "tokubetsu kogekitai". :-)

4. frank kelley says:
11 Nov 2019 02:30:55 PM

My father, Frank A Kelley Jr. was on the Steamer Bay although not named in the list of servicemen on board. He was a Ltjg. Anyway I can find out more about this ship?