Facing a kamikaze attack

27th November 1944: A US sailor's account of coming under repeated Japanese Kamikaze attacks whilst off the Philippines

USS Essex (CV-9), November 25, 1944. Japanese Yokosuka D4Y “Judy” making a kamikaze dive on USS Essex (CV-9), off the Philippines. Photographed from Essex. This plane struck near the forward elevator.

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) is hit on the flight deck amidships by a Japanese Kamikaze, during operations off the Philippines, 25 November 1944.

As the US landings on the Philippines were consolidated, the Japanese Navy became ever more desperate to halt the American advance across the Pacific. The organised use of Kamikaze suicide planes now became more frequent. Dramatic pictures of the engagement on the 25th November were to publicise the new danger. Two days later another battle group arriving off the Philippines came under a similar attack.

They had one thing in mind and that was to crash into our ships, bombs and all. You have to blow them up, to damage them doesn’t mean much.