Japanese fighters bombed the USS Sangamon (CVE-26) escort carrier. The Japanese suicide pilots who hit the Sangamon were not killed instantly, but were rescued by American soldiers with battle wounds.

     In the Pacific theater of World War II, Japanese fighter planes bombed the USS Sangamon (CVE-26) escort carrier of the United States Army. Suicide attackers who hit the Sangamon were not killed instantly, but were rescued by American soldiers with battle wounds. During the bombing, a Japanese “Zeke” fighter was shot down.The pilot of the Japanese fighter that fell in the Pacific was rescued by USS Thrasen (DD-530) off Leyte on October 20, 1944, and later transferred to the sick bay of the San Mogan aircraft carrier.

      Prior to the U.S. landing on Leyte on October 20, the Sangamon escort carrier began regular fighter arrivals and departures in support of the advance troops of the U.S. invasion force. Sangamon conducted attacks against airfields in Leyte and the Visayas; on October 20, fighters launched from Sangamon provided cover for landing parties and ships in the transport area; on October 20, Sangamon was hit on the main deck level, the top hidden deck, by another Japanese air assault. A bomb was dropped by a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero fighter. The bomb tore through a 0.61m X 1.83m section of plating and subsequently fell into the sea off Leyte. It exploded about 270 meters away from the “Jeep” carrier.

     During the invasion of Leyte, suicide attacks by Japanese bomber crews of units other than the Special Strike Group were dubbed as the first kamikaze attacks. The Battle of Leyte, which broke out between October 23 and October 25, 1944, was the first battle in which Japanese fighters conducted organized kamikaze special attacks. It was the largest naval battle ever fought between Japanese and American battleships. The Japanese suffered approximately 12,000 casualties. The American forces suffered approximately 3,000 casualties.