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What does "Ryusei" mean?
Short answer
"Shooting Star". It is the Japanese name (流星) of the Aichi B7A, whose production version appears in the naval designation as Navy Carrier Attack Bomber Ryusei (Shooting Star) B7A2. Aichi completed nine B7A1 prototypes and 80 production B7A2s, and another 25 came from the 21st Naval Air Arsenal.
A "shooting star" of the Japanese Navy
The Japanese name Ryūsei, written 流星, means "shooting star". It was borne by the Aichi B7A, whose production version appeared in naval nomenclature as Navy Carrier Attack Bomber Ryusei (Shooting Star) B7A2.
The aircraft so named
The B7A was given an inverted gull wing, similar to that of the F4U Corsair, in order to shorten the length of the main landing gear. Chief engineer Toshio Ozaki chose a mid-wing layout for the aircraft that made it possible to house an internal bomb bay and ensure sufficient clearance for its 3.5 m (11 ft) four-blade propeller.
Few units and service from land
Aichi finished nine B7A1 prototypes and eighty examples of the production B7A2 version. To that production were added another 25 aircraft from the 21st Naval Air Arsenal. A violent earthquake destroyed the Funakata factory, where they were assembled, in May 1945. The type was relegated to operating from various land bases and was flown mainly by the Yokosuka and 752nd air groups.
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