Named for the North American spider Latrodectus mactans, it was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design armed with four forward-firing 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano M2 autocannon in the …

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 …

In the Pacific, a Black Widow claimed its first "kill" on the night of July 6, 1944. As P-61s became available, they replaced interim Douglas P-70s and Bristol Beaufighters in all USAAF night …

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 …

By the end of World War II, Black Widows had seen combat in every theater and had destroyed 127 enemy aircraft and 18 German V-1 buzz bombs. The Museum’s Black Widow, a P-61C-1 …

From July 6, 1944 when it claimed its first victory, to the war’s end, the P-61 distinguished itself as one of America’s most unique fighting machines. The ‘Black Widow’ was the first aircraft totally …

Dec 18, 2024 · From a reliable research aircraft to a rare museum artifact. The P-61 Black Widow was an airplane of many talents. Yes, Northrop’s big fighter is known for stealthily stalking and …

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. …

Oct 7, 2022 · 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. Not counting bombers, …

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. Description. The P-61 …