In 1944, the Japanese military initiated a new type of attack intended to damage Allied forces and weaken their resolve. Pilots of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy intentionally crashed aircraft into Allied ships, including Intrepid.
Memory of these attacks, known as tokkō (special attack) operations in Japan and kamikaze attacks in the West, still evokes strong emotions. Our latest exhibition, Kamikaze: Beyond the Fire, marks the 75th anniversary of these devastating attacks.
Smoke from a kamikaze near-miss (National Archives and Records Administration)
Artifacts from the United States and Japan present stories of young men on both sides. An excerpt from the diary of kamikaze pilot Shimpei Satō reveals one pilot's perspective as he prepared for his final mission. A Navy Cross medal illustrates the bravery of Intrepid crew member Alfonso Chavarrias, who died while trying to shoot down a kamikaze airplane that crashed into the ship.
Navy Cross posthumously awarded to Alfonso Chavarrias (Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2015.02a-e)
Videos feature firsthand accounts from Intrepid crew members, drawn from the Museum's oral history collection. One video describes the deafening sound of Intrepid's anti-aircraft guns. Another captures the devastation and death in the aftermath of a kamikaze attack.
Former crew member Henry Mouzon describes a kamikaze attack (Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum)
A multimedia film, which has long been a moving experience for visitors, remains a focal point of the exhibit. The film transports visitors back to November 25, 1944, when Intrepid was struck by two kamikaze airplanes. New technology and effects enhance the experience, while open captions and benches increase its accessibility.
Learn more about this exhibition
Kamikaze: Beyond the Fire has been made possible by a generous grant from the Daniels Fund.
Kamikaze: Beyond the Fire has also been made possible through the cooperation of the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots in Minamikyushu City, Japan.