The phenomenon of calculated and deliberate aerial ramming tactics to defeat an otherwise invulnerable adversary is a concept difficult to comprehend, but desperate times can initiate such drastic actions. Certainly the dire situation confronting a beleaguered and failing Imperial Japan during the latter stages of the Pacific War instigated not only the well-known Kamikaze's directed specifically against Allied ships, but a lesser appreciated aerial component as well. The 47th Sentai (Group) based at Narimasu covering the approaches to Tokyo, was one of the most effective combat units of the six Sentai's within the 10th Hikodan (Air Division) under Major-General KihachiroYoshida.On the 6 November 1944 he ordered each unit to form four-strong air-to-air ramming flights, called Shinten Seikutai (Heaven Shaking Air Superiority Units). A fighter was modified for this role, having its nose and wing-mounted armament removed with the apertures faired over. Various other fixtures and fittings were also removed (including armour) prior to its planned terminal mission with no auxiliary fuel-tanks, primarily to make it as light as possible to gain crucial interception height and speed demands, but also to conserve and re-use as much increasingly scarce equipment as possible. The only offensive capability of such a fighter was its approximately 4,000kg mass travelling at 400km/h - sufficient to bring down any bomber. It has to be noted that Shinten Seikutai pilots apparently stalked their prey and only attacked if conditions arose that were favourable for a successful engagement They did not expend their lives and craft blindly, sometimes taking part in many interceptions before committing themselves to a positive strike against a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber. In such an attack pilots would aim for one of three perceived vulnerable areas - control surfaces (empennages), engine nacelles, or cockpit.
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