On May 4, 1945, a Japanese suicide plane, despite being hit by bullets, came within striking distance of the U.S. aircraft carrier Sangamon. The suicide plane, aiming at the escort carrier, Sangamon, was hit by a bullet just before entering the ship, narrowly missing the port side and falling into the sea

　　On May 4, 1945, a Japanese suicide plane, despite being hit by bullets, came within striking distance of the U.S. aircraft carrier Sangamon. Aiming at the escort carrier, the Sangamon, the suicide plane was hit by a bullet just before entering the ship, narrowly missing the port side and falling into the sea. During the Battle of Okinawa, approximately 3,000 Japanese Kamikaze pilots were killed in the Battle of Okinawa. The suicide planes did not end until August 16, the day after the unconditional surrender of the Japanese forces.

　　At 18:30 on May 4, 1945, the Sangamon departed from the Kerama Islands, 24 km west of the main island of Okinawa. Japanese suicide planes, only 47 km offshore. American fighters intercepted and shot down nine Japanese suicide planes; one passed over and began circling to the port side of the Sangamon at about 17:00 on May 4. The escort carrier, the Sangamon, turned sharply to the left to avoid the suicide plane. It then began to open fire on the ship. The Japanese suicide plane crashed into the water about 7.6 meters from the starboard beam.

　　The second other Japanese suicide plane, a Toryu, followed the first, and at 19:25 another suicide plane broke through the interceptor screen. It fled into the clouds to avoid American anti-aircraft fire. It then emerged from the clouds and headed toward Sangamon while increasing its speed. 19:33, the Kamikaze suicide plane dropped its bombs and crashed in the center of the flight deck. The bomb and part of the fuselage penetrated the deck and exploded at the bottom.

The Sangamon redirected the flames and smoke and allowed the fire to spread. by 20:15, with steering control, the ship was under control with the crew being returned to fight more fires. Water pressure was low as fire extinguisher pipes and risers ruptured. Carbon dioxide bottles were deployed. The port call was made and all fires were under control by 22:30. Communications with other units were restored, and at 23:20, Sangamon returned to the Kerama Islands for temporary repairs with the loss of 11 American dead, 25 missing, and 21 seriously injured.

Kamikaze Suicide Bomber(1945) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM2esx5Ov5g 

［British Pathé］