P-61 Black Widow requested pics - Aircraft of World War II

Messy1 · 05-22-2008, 12:31 PM

The Black Widow is my favorite plane, but trying to find some modern pics of this plane has been a problem for me. If anyone could help me out that would be great. I know that only a handful still exist. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Bryon.

Thorlifter · 05-22-2008, 12:59 PM

I love the P-61 myself. Here are a couple pics.

Messy1 · 05-22-2008, 01:02 PM

Thanks Thorlifter!

Erich · 05-22-2008, 01:09 PM

Bryon why would you choose the Widow as your fav a/c ?

Messy1 · 05-22-2008, 01:39 PM

I can't say really. Not much combat time, performance results are average. I guess I just think it looks cool I guess. Must be the forked tail as I also like the P-38.

thirtybg · 05-24-2008, 10:53 AM

The P-61 is among my favorites as well. One of my Dad's uncles maintained Black Widows for a brief time,
late-war and post-war.

Here's a few views of the NASM bird. The first four, taken during re-hanging of the port engine, were sent
to me by an acquaintance... the last one is from the NASM online 'press-room'...

Images showing the bird at the NMUSAF can be found HERE.

Photos of the Beijing example can be found HERE.

And lastly, but not leastly... MAAM's bird, being restored to airworthy...

The Widow's Web

A few additional views of all four survivors can be found on Airliners.net and MyAviation.net.
(Specific search results on MyAviation cannot be linked, so just do a search for 'P-61' under 'Aircraft'.)

Catch22 · 05-24-2008, 04:57 PM

I love that plane.

Haztoys · 05-24-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catch22

I love that plane.

Me two ....I know it was not the best but a lot of the planes I like were duds..LOL...

So any info on how the P-61 got to China...????..

Went by a antique shop today and they had a P-61 model in the box for $8.00 ..The box was a good 18 inches plus long good size ...Almost got it ...I'm just not a modeler..I was thinking of you model perverts on there ..LOL..

RabidAlien · 05-25-2008, 01:11 AM

Holy crap! Dang....I bet someone would've paid you $15 (plus shipping) for that!

thirtybg · 05-25-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haztoys

So any info on how the P-61 got to China...????..

Uncle Sam sent it over in 1944 or 1945 and, although there are conflicting stories as to the how and why,
it never came home...

Anyhoo, she is a P-61B, serial number 42-39715, and she undoubtedly served with either the 426th or
427th NFS... with the latter being a good bet, if at least one of those aforementioned conflicting stories
is to be believed. Here's a quote from Wiki or some other site:

The official story is that one of the P-61s that were based in Sichuan Province during the war was
turned over to the Chendu Institute of Aeronautical Engineering in 1947. When the Institute moved to
its present location, it did not take the plane with them, instead it was shipped to the Beijing Institute
of Aeronautical Engineering in 1954. As both USAAF night fighter squadrons (426th, 427th) that served
in China were inactivated in 1945, this may not be accurate.An alternate explanation is that at the end
of hostilities in 1945, the 427th was in the process of bringing their various detachments back to a
central airfield for disposition of the aircraft and to start processing home. At one of the satellite airfields
there were three P-61s, two in need of maintenance. Reportedly some Chinese communist troops came
onto the field and ordered the Americans to leave, but to leave their aircraft behind.

I'm sure someday the truth will come to light... and then maybe not. Whatever the case may be, it would
be pretty groovy if someone could manage to acquire this bird and bring it back to the USA. Or, as an
alternative, I've read that the Chinese claim to have two more P-61s in storage, and have offered them
for sale for a couple MIL$. Dunno how true that is... if it's on the level, and if there's more than just a
pile-o-parts, maybe some insanely rich wing-nut like Paul Allen will jump at the chance.

Messy1 · 06-02-2008, 11:50 AM

thirtybg, thanks for the pics and the info. I want to see one a P-61 in person sometime. I also wonder how many more planes (not just P-61's) are still overseas waiting someone to buy them and bring them home.

Bucksnort101 · 06-02-2008, 12:01 PM

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is currently rebuilding a P-61 back to flight status. I was in Reading, Pa. a few years back before I knew of this project so I did not get a chance to go look at her. I'll be keeping an eye out for when she is airworthy and I'm sure she will visit the Oshkosh EAA show when done.

MAAM's P-61 Recovery and Restoration Project - The Widow's Web

Messy1 · 06-02-2008, 04:12 PM

I found the MAAM on the internet a few years ago. I drop in on that site every once in a while.

carbine · 06-02-2008, 09:16 PM

P61 Pilots Manual
P-61 Pilot's Manual Information
Northrop P-61 Black Widow Development
Northrop P-61 Black Widow

05-22-2008, 12:31 PM	#1
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	P-61 Black Widow requested pics The Black Widow is my favorite plane, but trying to find some modern pics of this plane has been a problem for me. If anyone could help me out that would be great. I know that only a handful still exist. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Bryon. __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

05-22-2008, 01:02 PM	#3
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	Thanks Thorlifter! __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

05-22-2008, 01:09 PM	#4
Erich the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere Posts: 10,774	Bryon why would you choose the Widow as your fav a/c ? __________________ Rip it up !

05-22-2008, 01:39 PM	#5
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	I can't say really. Not much combat time, performance results are average. I guess I just think it looks cool I guess. Must be the forked tail as I also like the P-38. __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

05-24-2008, 04:57 PM	#7
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	I love that plane. __________________

05-24-2008, 10:53 AM	#6
thirtybg Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 43	The P-61 is among my favorites as well. One of my Dad's uncles maintained Black Widows for a brief time, late-war and post-war. Here's a few views of the NASM bird. The first four, taken during re-hanging of the port engine, were sent to me by an acquaintance... the last one is from the NASM online 'press-room'... Images showing the bird at the NMUSAF can be found HERE. Photos of the Beijing example can be found HERE. And lastly, but not leastly... MAAM's bird, being restored to airworthy... The Widow's Web A few additional views of all four survivors can be found on Airliners.net and MyAviation.net. (Specific search results on MyAviation cannot be linked, so just do a search for 'P-61' under 'Aircraft'.)

05-25-2008, 01:11 AM	#9
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,825	Holy crap! Dang....I bet someone would've paid you $15 (plus shipping) for that! __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

06-02-2008, 11:50 AM	#11
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	thirtybg, thanks for the pics and the info. I want to see one a P-61 in person sometime. I also wonder how many more planes (not just P-61's) are still overseas waiting someone to buy them and bring them home. __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

06-02-2008, 12:01 PM	#12
Bucksnort101 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,204	The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is currently rebuilding a P-61 back to flight status. I was in Reading, Pa. a few years back before I knew of this project so I did not get a chance to go look at her. I'll be keeping an eye out for when she is airworthy and I'm sure she will visit the Oshkosh EAA show when done. MAAM's P-61 Recovery and Restoration Project - The Widow's Web __________________ A 2006 study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year. That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles per gallon.

06-02-2008, 04:12 PM	#13
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	I found the MAAM on the internet a few years ago. I drop in on that site every once in a while. __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

06-02-2008, 09:16 PM	#14
carbine Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brisbane Posts: 26	P61 Pilots Manual P-61 Pilot's Manual Information Northrop P-61 Black Widow Development Northrop P-61 Black Widow

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