Northrop P-61 Black Widow - Wikipedia
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is a twin-engine United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter . [ 1 ]
Northrop P-61 Black Widow - Aviation History
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow gets a lot of attention considering the relatively small role it played in World War II. Unlike the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang, it did not have an impressive number of kills. It downed only about 127 aircraft (18 were V-1 Buzz Bombs). Its overall impact on the war was minimal and its victories were sporadic.
Northrop P-61C Black Widow - National Museum of the USAF
The heavily-armed Black Widow was the United States' first aircraft specifically designed as a night-fighter. The P-61 carried radar equipment in its nose that enabled its crew of two or three to locate enemy aircraft in total darkness and fly into proper position to attack.
Packing a Deadly Bite, the P-61 Black Widow was a ... - The …
Oct 19, 2024 · Northrop’s night fighter was large, heavily armed, and fast for its size; the United States first night fighter designed from the ground up could find enemy aircraft in the dark thanks to...
Northrop P-61C Black Widow - National Air and Space Museum
The P-61 Black Widow was the first United States aircraft designed from the start to find and destroy other aircraft at night and in bad weather. It served in combat for only the final year of World War II but flew in the European, Mediterranean, Pacific, and China-Burma-India theaters.
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow and its Deadly Web - HistoryNet
Oct 7, 2022 · The Northrop P-61 Black Widow and its Deadly Web With just 127 victories to its credit, the Northrop P-61 was a minor player in WWII air combat, but its influence extended far beyond that wartime role.
Northrop P-61 Black Widow: First American Airplane Designed …
Aug 4, 2022 · Employees of the Northrop Corp. built 706 P-61 Black Widow aircraft. At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the National Air and Space Museum displays P-61C-1-NO, military serial #43-8330, one of only four surviving Black Widows.
Northrop P-61 Black Widow: First American Airplane Designed …
May 26, 2023 · On July 16, 1944, the first aerial victory for a P-61 crew in the Europe happened when pilot Herman E. Ernst and radar operator (R/O) Edward H. Kopsel shot down a V-1. Black Widow crews shot down eight more Buzz Bombs before the war ended.
P-61 Black Widow: Best WWII Fighter to Ever Fly?
Nov 17, 2024 · With its twin-engine, twin-boom design, the P-61 excelled in nighttime combat during WWII, shooting down 127 aircraft, including 18 V-1 buzz bombs. What You Need to Know: The Northrop...
Northrop P-61 Black Widow - Army Air Corps Museum
The P-61 Black Widow was a unique and advanced night fighter aircraft developed by Northrop Corporation for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. It was the first operational aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter and played a crucial role in intercepting and destroying enemy aircraft under cover of darkness.