Kamikaze attack in World War II. Explosion of the USS St Lo (CVE-63) after this escort carrier ship of the US Navy was hit by a kamikaze attack on 25 October 1944. This attack took place during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. Around 140 people died from the crew of 889. 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. Photographed by Phi Willard Nieth.