Special attack pilot Lieutenant Yoshinori Yamaguchi's Yokosuka D4Y3 Model 33 diving at carrier Essex, at 1256 on 25 Nov 1944, photo 3 of 3

Caption     Special attack pilot Lieutenant Yoshinori Yamaguchi's Yokosuka D4Y3 Model 33 diving at carrier Essex, at 1256 on 25 Nov 1944, photo 3 of 3 ww2dbase
Photographer    Unknown
Source    ww2dbaseUnited States Navy
Link to Source    Link
More on...   
D4Y Suisei   Main article  Photos  
Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Tokko "Kamikaze" Special Attack Doctrine   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Essex   Main article  Photos  
Photo Size 2,141 x 2,133 pixels
Photos in Series See all 3 photos in this series
Photos on Same Day 25 Nov 1944
Photos at Same Place Pacific Ocean
Added By David Stubblebine
Licensing  Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government".

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Colorized By WW2DB     Colorized with Adobe Photoshop



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
18 Feb 2025 12:41:34 AM

This picture is Iconic.
Brings back a lot of memories.

During the War in the Pacific, my father, William T. Mayes was a S1C serving aboard the USS Essex. He was 19.
I grew up with stories about his service and the time he spent aboard the USS Essex. He would always share about the Kamikaze attack that day Nov. 25, 1944
It was during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
I’ve scene footage taken from another ship close by … but not this picture.
Lt. Yoshinoro Yamaguchi was the the pilot that day, flying a “Judy” fully fueled.
My father was in the conning tower when it slammed into the Essex.

40 Years later in 1984, just before he died when I was 17, my father gave me a momento, it was a piece of the wing of that very Judy (2’x2’) green metal
with a slice the Rising Sun emblem. It was framed in the wood from the flight deck that it destroyed.

I did not realize it back then, but he gave me a piece of history. A museum piece you might say.

Serving aboard the USS Essex was the highlight of my father’s young career.
Thanks Dad.

Regards,
Charles Mayes
561-215-8109






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