Mitsubishi J8M Shusui

The Mitsubishi Shusui, naval designation J8M and army designation Ki-200, was a Second World War rocket-powered interceptor designed and built by Mitsubishi, closely based on the German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. It began as a licence-built copy, but shipping losses meant Mitsubishi had to reverse engineer the aircraft from a flight manual and limited documents, and the Navy and Army shared the project to counter Allied strategic bombing. A single powered prototype made its maiden flight on 7 July 1945 but its engine cut out and it crashed, killing the pilot. Seven operational examples were completed by Mitsubishi, no missions were flown, and work ended with the surrender on 15 August 1945.