Spaw - Yes, I am simply saying that Nishizawa was Japanese. He flew escort on numerous kamikaze missions, but was considered too valuable a pilot to be expended in that manner. He became very depressed by the deaths of his young friends and felt guilty for still being alive himself when they had made the ultimate sacrifice. He certainly had a death wish by the timt he was shot down in an unarmed transport plane, and had informed his friend Sakai that he would soon be dead.

As for the radio thing, you're basically right. In most, but not all cases they did strip the radios out of the planes before sending them on their final missions.

Matt - Thanks! The absolute best kit available of the SBD Dauntless is in 1/48 scale by Accurate Miniatures. It's a masterpiece. The Dauntless was the most successful naval dive bomber of WWII. Have fun flying that Wildcat, and watch your tail. Banzai!