European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes world wednesday november 30,1994 suicide pilots feats live on by Joseph Coleman the associated press Chirac Japan a final cup of Sake still warm in his belly Yoshio Nagai climbed into a cockpit and headed South with just enough fuel for a one Way trip to Okinawa. His Mission crash his plane and its single bomb payload into an enemy ship. i m going to be scattered beautifully the 20-year-old Kamikaze Pilot wrote in a goodbye letter to his family comparing his final explosive flight to a Cascade of Blos soms blown from a Cherry tree. Nearly 50 years later the runway where Nagai took off is covered with gravel and lined with urns. His letter is in a Glass Cas under his photograph preserved with hundreds of others at the peace museum for Kamikaze pilots. While much of the world remembers the thousands of kamikazes sent against . And other Allied ships in the closing months of world War ii As suicidal fanatics Many japanese see them As Innoce Tyoung victims of a senseless War. To protect this country 20-year-Oldboys threw their lives away said photographer Toshifumi Fukumura As a group of japanese some wiping tears from their Cheeks bowed before a Bronze statue of Pilot in front of the museum. Named after a legendary typhoon that foiled Kublai Khan s attempt to invade Japan in 1281, the Kamikaze or divine wind attack Force was a desperate at tempt to stave off an american invasion of the japanese Home islands. The first special attack missions were flown in defense of japanese positions in the Philippines in 1944. The number of flights increased dramatically when Ameri can forces invaded Okinawa the following year. Historians put the total number of a an explosives Laden Craft of the Type used by the japanese in Kamikaze missions. Apih Mikazes pilots near 4,000. The Suick Zelanes took a heavy toll in Allied ships and yes a single attack by kamikazes on the aircraft Carrier Franklin in March 1945 killed 800 sailors Nagai was one of 436 Kamikaze Pilot who took off from the military base in Chirac on the Southern tip of the southernmost of Japan s main four islands about 630 Miles Southwest of Tokyo. Like memorials at the atomic bomb Sites in Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Centra lesson of the Kamikaze museum is pacifism. Several Stone tablets around the museum ground remind visitors of the great losses suffered in War and a visitors log is filled with hand written Calls for peace. We re thankful for the peace we have now and we realize that peace is importantly Corning Here said Fukumura who takes group photographs in front of the museum. Side by Side with the pacifist theme however is a Celebration of the kamikazes bravery and sacrifice. Visitors Are greeted in the museum lobby by a mural Ofa goddess rescuing the spirit a Pilot from a burning plane. Uniforms medals and Ris ing Sun flags line the Walls and at the Cen Ter of the Hall is a world War ii Era plan with saluting statues around it. There Are photographs of Young women waving flow ers at departing planes. An audio tape provided to visitors tells How two japanese pilots brought Down a big american b-29 bomber by ramming it in flight. Television show footage of kamikazes in action. Museum the museum also tugs hard at japanese Heartstrings showing the pilots As cheerful Young men boys and mothers sons who would rather have been at Home with Loving families and friends instead of train ing for a fiery death. Hundreds of goodbye letters Are on Dis play. In the lobby is a piano that belonged to a Pilot and photographs on the Wall show smiling aviators joking with each other or petting puppies. Items left behind by the pilots Gog Gles books and handmade dolls fill Dis play cases. Outside is a statue of a japanese Mother her hands folded and her face looking sadly toward the Pilot s statue. Plaque below her urges the world to live in peace. The museum grew out of the maternal sentiments of Tome Tor Hama a local inn keeper who housed and fed some of the pilots in their final months. She set up a Small shrine for the kamikazes right after the War. A larger shrine was established in 1955, and the museum opened in 1975.about 600,000 people a year visit the shrine and memorial services for the pilots Are held every May 3. The most gripping aspect of the museums the pilots own words and visitors crowd the display cases to read their perhaps aware military government officials would read the letters the Young men were surprisingly poetic and accepting of their Fate. Many said the gladly gave their lives for their country though one Pilot told his parents that hews on his Way to Nagai who made his final flight june 8,1945, was resigned yet steadfast. I m glad to serve at last for the Empire he wrote. I m just doing what i have to do it s nothing to be especially Federal endorsement of sponsor not intended Kenwood Christmas sate starts today at the Rhein main audio photo club. T miss out on big savings on All Kenwood Home and car i i Rhein main audio photo club bldg. 349 Rhein main air base Dan 330-7712 Civ 069-69-30s3 open tue sat 11 am-6pm and Sun noon-6pm visa Mastercard Home layaway \
