P-61 Black Widow

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-21-2005, 12:52 PM

No what I mean is didn't they play around with a night fighter version?

Erich · 03-21-2005, 12:59 PM

yes they worked on fitting a radar nose or should say a radar bulb under the nose, painted all gloss black and a terible tight cockpit behind the pilot for the R/O. the a/c were sent to Japan after the war........

E

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-21-2005, 01:03 PM

however the fact that she was a good day fighter doesn't nessisarily mean she'd make a good nightfighter.........

GT · 03-21-2005, 03:06 PM

Update.

Erich · 03-21-2005, 03:18 PM

first mission by the 422nd was on July 4, 1944. 6 kills of V-1's in July . First a/c kill was a Ju 88 on the night of August 7/8, 1944.

42 kills, and additional 2 kills were RAF a/c and they also attacked two Mossie nf's in 1945.. last kill was a Ju 52 on the night of April 12/13, 1945.

As I mentioned earlier I was a friend of the US night fighter association before it's dissolvement.

Erich

cheddar cheese · 03-21-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

however the fact that she was a good day fighter doesn't nessisarily mean she'd make a good nightfighter.........

Actually tests showed that the aicraft retained similar characteristics to the day fighters, with very little performance drop. The only problem was slightly cramped quarters for the radar operator. The "Night Lightning would probably have made a better NF than the Black Widow.

wmaxt · 03-21-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheddar cheese

Quote:

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

however the fact that she was a good day fighter doesn't nessisarily mean she'd make a good nightfighter.........

Actually tests showed that the aicraft retained similar characteristics to the day fighters, with very little performance drop. The only problem was slightly cramped quarters for the radar operator. The "Night Lightning would probably have made a better NF than the Black Widow.

This is true about the P-38. The one problem the P-38M had was the Turbos would glow cherry red and give it's position away.

The P-61 had some pretty major problems with both speed and with severe turbulance from the gun turrets that was never correctly fixed.

cheddar cheese · 03-21-2005, 04:59 PM

The P-38M only had a speed drop of 8mph (414mph to 406mph) with all the added equipment.

Erich · 03-21-2005, 05:01 PM

the 422nd and 425th nfs in the ETO jerked the .50 cal turret off the top of the fuselage as it was not needed to reduce drag. the overall problem was the training of the pilot and R/O to identify German night a/c. this was admitted to me by freinds in the 425th nfs. One a pilot and another a very reluctant CO Gilly Lewis who was also a pilot and a great guy and character. The R/O was moved from the rear of the a/c to sit right above the pilot in ETO P-61's.

True the Widow was a heavy beast and a few were shot down by German nf's as well as tail gunners from Ju 87D's - 2 confirmed and a He 177 rear gunner who was awarded the EK 1 for his action.

E ~

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-22-2005, 08:42 AM

The blackwidow was still more suited for the NF than a Lightning.

GT · 03-23-2005, 09:09 AM

Update.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-23-2005, 09:23 AM

I think the thing, the mossie was just a more proven aircraft as she entered service sooner.

Erich · 03-23-2005, 10:55 AM

The Mossie was superlative. Can tell you for a fact that no RAF crew was going to change over. There was American pride however and of course seeing this oversized black thing on the tarmac brought individual pride, it being quite menacing looking.

For December 44 the 422nd had 18 kills and the 425th nfs had 8. I have the official micorfische histories for both squadrons

The 425th nfs had 1 ace crew the 422nd had 3 ace crews.

E ~

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-23-2005, 01:43 PM

Oh I can believe that no Brit Mossie crews would ever give up there Mossie.

Erich · 03-23-2005, 01:49 PM

my opinion but the Mossie XIX and XXX were far superior in every way.