On 31 March, obtained a sonar contact and made a depth-charge attack on a suspected Japanese submarine. "Benham"s crew reported an oil slick and a strong odor of diesel fuel afterwards, but again there were no firm results. On 6 April, five days after landings began on Okinawa, Japanese air activity increased dramatically as they launched the first of their massed kamikaze attacks against American forces in and around the Ryūkyūs. Although these massive raids plagued picket destroyers elsewhere, "Benham" suffered no direct attacks during this initial foray. At 09:44 on 17 April, however, four Zeros closed her position. One strafed , pulled up, and then dove straight at "Benham". Although antiaircraft fire from several destroyers splashed the plane about astern, the Zero disintegrated in a large explosion that, in conjunction with antiaircraft fire from adjacent ships, killed one sailor, wounded 14, and knocked out the destroyer's radar.