Kamikaze attack in World War II. Japanese 'Zero' fighter aircraft (Mitsubishi A6M Zero) about to crash into the sea after an unsuccessful attack on the USS Essex (CV-9) aircraft carrier on 15 May 1945. Kamikaze attacks were suicide attacks carried out by Japanese pilots flying specially adapted aircraft carrying a combination of explosives, bombs, torpedoes and full fuel tanks. They were designed to destroy warships more effectively than was possible with conventional attacks.