Aichi B7A Ryūsei Grace Torpedo Bomber

Designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second World War, the Aichi B7A Ryūsei was a torpedo dive bomber aircraft. The Allies assigned it the reporting name Grace, while Ryūsei translates as shooting star. The B7A was not yet in operational service when the only active Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō was sunk. The only other aircraft carrier of sufficient size Shinano was sunk only ten days after commissioning in November 1944. As a result B7A aircraft operated from land bases. A total of 114 were built before the end of hostilities.