{"product_id":"original-japanese-wwii-usgi-bring-back-identified-kamikaze-pilot-hachimaki-headband-pilot-cadet-collar-insignia-with-provenance","title":"Original Japanese WWII USGI Bring Back Identified Kamikaze Pilot Hachimaki Headband \u0026 Pilot Cadet Collar Insignia with Provenance","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-kind Set. This is a lovely USGI bring back set, consisting of a Kamikaze Pilot Hachimaki Headband and a Pilot Cadet Collar insignia. These were acquired post war from a former pilot by one of the many USGIs stationed in Japan following their surrender in September 1945. Along with the headband is some great documentation, including a handwritten note and other items. Unfortunately we do not know the name of this USGI, but included in the set is a copy of a picture of him with the former pilot, as well as a more recent copy of a photo of him with the headband, also holding the original of the photo with the pilot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese headbands are extremely rare, because most that were worn were destroyed when the Japanese pilot crashed his plane into a ship, or was shot down. These were presented to the pilot before their final mission along with a small cup of saki. Kamikaze translates to Divine Wind. The Japanese started using Kamikaze attacks against the U.S. Naval forces in October of 1944. They also used one man submarines with an attached warhead to take them to their death, and a place of honor at the Yasukuni National Shrine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe headband in this set is of cotton or linen construction and measures approximately 32 1\/2 inches x 12 1\/4 inches and is offered in very good condition. The front of the headband features the Japanese red \"Hi no Maru\" (日の丸 or sun round) emblem, with \u003cstrong\u003e風 神\u003c\/strong\u003e (Kami-kaze or Divine Wind) surrounding it. It has a lovely aged toned look, probably having been on display in the USGIs house for years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1 3\/4\" x 7\/8\" pilot cadet insignia is one of a pair that they would have been issued, with one wing on each side. It is in very good condition, and definitely was attached to a uniform at some point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePer the included documentation, the pilot that the USGI acquired the headband and insignia from was named Alaketa Gonteda, and they met them at a Japanese silk mill, where the former pilot was assigned to clean the floors. They got to know them, and as with many USGI bring back items, were given to them to take home as souveniers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lovely example that comes more than ready for further research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKamikaze, (神風) \"divine wind\" or \"spirit wind\", officially Shinpū Tokubetsu Kōgekitai (神風特別攻撃隊, \"Divine Wind Special Attack Unit\"), were a part of the Japanese Special Attack Units of military aviators who initiated suicide attacks for the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy warships more effectively than possible with conventional air attacks. About 3,800 kamikaze pilots died during the war, and more than 7,000 naval personnel were killed by kamikaze attacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKamikaze aircraft were essentially pilot-guided explosive missiles, purpose-built or converted from conventional aircraft. Pilots would attempt to crash their aircraft into enemy ships in what was called a \"body attack\" in planes laden with some combination of explosives, bombs, torpedoes and full fuel tanks. Accuracy was much higher than that of conventional attacks, and the payload and explosion larger; about 19% of kamikaze attacks were successful. A kamikaze could sustain damage that would disable a conventional attacker and still achieve its objective. The goal of crippling or destroying large numbers of Allied ships, particularly aircraft carriers, was considered by the Empire of Japan to be a just reason for sacrificing pilots and aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese attacks, which began in October 1944, followed several critical military defeats for the Japanese. They had long since lost aerial dominance as a result of having outdated aircraft and enduring the loss of experienced pilots. Japan suffered from a diminishing capacity for war and a rapidly declining industrial capacity relative to that of the Allies. Japan was also losing pilots faster than it could train their replacements. These combined factors, along with Japan's unwillingness to surrender, led to the use of kamikaze tactics as Allied forces advanced towards the Japanese home islands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the term kamikaze usually refers to the aerial strikes, it has also been applied to various other suicide attacks. The Japanese military also used or made plans for non-aerial Japanese Special Attack Units, including those involving submarines, human torpedoes, speedboats and divers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tradition of death instead of defeat, capture and shame is deeply entrenched in Japanese military culture. One of the primary traditions in the samurai life and the Bushido code: loyalty and honor until death\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41083136671813,"sku":"ONSV23JVD1","price":1295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV23JVD1__01MAIN.jpg?v=1709155450","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-japanese-wwii-usgi-bring-back-identified-kamikaze-pilot-hachimaki-headband-pilot-cadet-collar-insignia-with-provenance","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}