Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

P-61A-1 (Serial No 42-5528) "Jap-Batty" of the 6th NFS, Saipan, 1944.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

P-61A-5 (Serial No 42-5536) "Husslin Hussey" of 422nd NFS, Scorton, 1944.

Мировая Авиация 82

Истребитель P-61A-5 (42-5564) летал в составе 422-й эскадрильи ночных истребителей во время ее базирования на английской авиабазе Скортон, графство Йоркшир. На самолете нарисована акулья пасть и частично нанесены "полосы вторжения".

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

P-61A-5 (Serial No 42-5564) "Jukin Judy" of 422nd NFS, Scorton, 1944.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

P-61B-1 (Serial No 42-39468) "Moonlight Serenade" of 550th NFS, Morotai, 1944.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

P-61B-15 (Serial No 42-39713) "Lady in the Dark" of 548th NFS, Ryukyu, August 1945.

Мировая Авиация 209

Почти все самолеты Black Widow, подобно этому P-61B-15 поздней постройки с верхней пулеметной башней, целиком окрасили в черный цвет. Изображен самолет 548-й ночной истребительной эскадрильи, Тихий океан, 1944 год. Под крылом подвешен 1173-литровый сбрасываемый топливный бак.

Мировая Авиация 82

Самолет из первой партии P-61A. Истребитель Black Widow оказался превосходным ночным истребителем, но был слишком сложен по конструкции.

Мировая Авиация 82

Самолет P-61A-10-NO без верхней башни был сфотографирован во время службы в составе 425-й эскадрильи ночных истребителей во Франции через несколько недель после высадки в Нормандии. Эта часть сбила несколько крылатых ракет V-1.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

In its striking yellow and black colour scheme, Northrop P-61B-1 Black Widow N30020 was photographed at Hammer Field, a former World War Two P-61 training base near Fresno, California, on July 4, 1963, while being operated by Idaho-based Ranchers Inc. The aircraft had not yet had its fire-bomber code added; within two months it was destroyed in a fatal crash while fire-bombing.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

The Black Widow “borate bomber” at Hammer Field, Fresno, in mid-July 1963. The fire-bomber code E53 was allocated to the machine and displayed on its fins.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

P-61C s/n 43-8353 on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Used for many years as an instructional airframe by the Springfield Boy Scouts, it is now painted to represent a Pacific War Widow.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

P-61B s/n 42-39445 is currently under restoration to airworthy status by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum at Reading, Pennsylvania, and is seen here in an advanced stage of completion at a museum event in June 2010.

Aviation Historian 18

Four Black Widows and a Reporter prepare to depart Clinton County AAF. Note other Operation Thunderstorm aircraft in the background, including Flying Fortresses and Skymasters.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D Skymaster - СШАUSA - 1942Northrop F-15 Reporter - СШАUSA - 1945

Мировая Авиация 80

Четыре P-61C и один F-15 сфотографированы на аэродроме Всепогодного авиацентра, штат Огайо, перед полетом в "глаз" циклона (1947 год). Самолеты входили в циклон с разными временными интервалами и замеряли температуру, скорость и давление воздуха, а также проводили фотографирование. Краска с носового фюзеляжного обтекателя головного самолета сильно облезла.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Northrop F-15 Reporter - СШАUSA - 1945

Мировая Авиация 82

Летчик-испытатель Вэнс Брис впервые поднял в воздух первый прототип XP-61 в мае 1942 года. Несмотря на свой необычный вид, XP-61 оказался отличным летательным аппаратом.

Мировая Авиация 108

26 мая 1942г.: поднялся в воздух прототип Northrop XP-61 - первого в ВВС Армии США специализированного и оснащенного РЛС ночного истребителя.
The first XP-61 (41-19509) which, initially flown on 26 May 1942, was fitted with a mock-up of the dorsal barbette.

Мировая Авиация 209

По этой фотографии можно судить о размерах самолета Black Widow. Передняя турельная стрелковая установка была только на первой машине, на последующих от нее отказались.
The first YP-61 (41-18876) as completed in August 1943 with four-gun dorsal barbette.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

The second YP-61 (41-18877) after delivery to the AAF with reinforced barbette and inboard guns removed.

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

YP-61 установочной серии

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

YP-61 s/n 41-18887 was removed from storage at Chino and flown to Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona, where it joined numerous other aircraft in museum storage.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

The 13th YP-61, s/n 41-18888, parked at the vast surplus aircraft scrapyard at Chino, California. The YP prefix denoted a Service Test aircraft with minor differences from production machines. This P-61 was acquired by Pratt & Whitney and used as an engine and propeller testbed for ten years until it was scrapped after an accident.

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

Jane's All the World Aircraft 1980 / Encyclopedia of Aviation - Aircraft A-Z - v5

Northrop P-61 Black Widow.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

P-61A-1NO 42-5501, one of the first Black Widows built by the Northrop Hawthorne, California plant. Deliveries began in October 1943, and although first models had dorsal turrets, subsequent buffeting caused them to be deleted from later aircraft.

Моделист-Конструктор Истребители Второй мировой войны

P-61A в тренировочном полете над Калифорнией, 1944 г.

Авиация и Космонавтика 2013-11 / Р.Вениаминов - "Рамы" небесные /Фотоархив/ (1)

Northrop P-61

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

A P-61A-1 (42-5508) retaining the four-gun dorsal barbette. This, the twenty-third production "Widow", was among the first to reach the Pacific Theatre of Operations.

Мировая Авиация 80

Базировавшийся на Сайпане P-61A сфотографирован над Тихим океаном, январь 1945 года. Каплевидный обтекатель турели указывает на то, что она неподвижна.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Another view of the P-61A 42-5507 over California in 1944.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

P-61A-1-NO in flight over California in 1944. This aircraft is painted in the desert paint scheme applied to Pacific Night Fighter Squadrons. Only 45 A-1s were built.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

One of the thirty-five P-61A-5s (42-5544) after arrival in the UK in 1944.

Мировая Авиация 82

Фирма "Northrop" установила на P-61 закрылки почти по всему размаху крыла. Обычные элероны были очень маленькими, но управление по крену осуществлялось при необходимости и четырьмя секциями дифференциально отклоняемых интерцепторов на каждой консоли. Это делало самолет P-61 удивительно маневренным, несмотря на его размер и массу.

Jane's All the World Aircraft 1946 / 03 - All the world's aeroplanes

The Northrop P-61A Black Widow Night Fighter (two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 engines).

Мировая Авиация 209

На правом борту фюзеляжа этого P-61A видны выступающие антенны РЛС.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Robert Bolinder’s Double Trouble over England in June 1944, also of the 422nd NFS.

Jane's All the World Aircraft 1946 / 03 - All the world's aeroplanes

The Northrop P-61A Black Widow Three-seat Night Fighter (two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 engines).

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

В полете P-61A

Мировая Авиация 80

Подобно другим самолетам союзников на Европейском ТВД истребители P-67 несли "полосы вторжения". На P-67 ("Double Trouble") летал лейтенант Роберт Болиндер, одержавший на нем одну из своих четырех подтвержденных побед в воздушных боях.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

422nd NFS P-61As immediately after D-Day. Herman Ernst's Borrowed Time is seen in the foreground.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Another 422nd P-61, Tennessee Ridge Runner, was flown by John Anderson and is seen in France in 1944.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Midnight Menace of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron, seen in France in 1945.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Some of 417th NFS P-61Bs, taken on March 3, 1945, the first day the unit flew the type. Note how the protective tape, covering all the joints, has pulled the paint off after removal.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

This early P-61B-1 (42-39419) was unusual in having the dorsal gun barbette which was not generally reintroduced until the appearance of the P-61B-15.

Мировая Авиация 82

До 12 машин P-61B передали в Корпус морской пехоты США для использования в качестве учебных ночных истребителей с новым обозначением F2T-1.

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

P-61B

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

Owing to the inscription “Hap” Arnold Air Scouts on the nose of this Widow, it was assumed that it was P-61C s/n 43-8353, but its “buzz number” (PK-300 on the port boom) and the fact that it is a P-61B indicate that it is another machine entirely, about which nothing appears to be known.

Jane's All the World Aircraft 1947 / All the world's aeroplanes

The Northrop P-61B Black Widow Night Fighter (two 2,000 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-2800-65 engines).

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

Conceived specifically as a nightfighter, and the only American aircraft to be built for that particular role during the Second World War, the P-61 was designed around the advances in Airborne Interception radar. This rather weary P-61B, s/n 42-39600, was photographed while up from Hamilton Field, California, on June 23, 1948.

Мировая Авиация 80

Пара P-61B-20 из последней производственной серии P-61B после взлета с одного из европейских аэродромов. В составе американской авиационной группировки в Европе имелись три ночные истребительные эскадрильи - 415-я, 416-я и 417-я.

Авиация и Космонавтика 2024-02 / О.Рязанцев - Последняя надежда пилота (1)

Катапультирование Лоуренса Ламберта из самолёта P-61B, 17 августа 1946 г.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

Black Widow N30020 in the elaborate brown, green and orange colour scheme it wore after having been acquired by Jack Ammann Photogrammetric Engineers for aerial survey work. Effective but expensive to run, the Widow spent much of its time on the ramp at San Antonio, Texas, where it was photographed on April 24, 1960.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

The forteenth production P-61C-1 (43-8334). Note the broad-chord high-activity airscrew blades, the cheek-type carburettor air intakes and ventral turbo-supercharger air intakes.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

Only 41 P-61C variants were built, one of which, s/n 43-8330, was used by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for trials before ultimately being acquired by the Smithsonian Institution. It is now on display at the National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington DC.

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

P-61C

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

Stationed at Wright Field for most of its life, P-61C s/n 43-8353 was used extensively for radar test work before being donated to the Boy Scouts of Springfield, Ohio, on May 9, 1949 - probably for use as an educational and instructional airframe. The Widow was moved (perhaps flown) to a small airfield just outside Urbana, Ohio. It was given a coating of flat black paint, and information on how to join the Air Scouts of the BSA was lettered on the starboard side of the fuselage pod.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

P-61 being worked on at the end of the day, France, 1944.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

P-61 with war-weary crew chief at the end of the war, taken at a base in Germany.

Авиация и Космонавтика 2004-07 / А.Демин - Датаншань - Монино по-китайски

"Запасник" музея. Обратите внимание на такие редкие машины, как американские истребители P-61 "Черная вдова", P-47 "Тандерболт", советские Ла-9, МиГ-9, Як-17УТИ, Як-11, Ту-2. Например, Ла-9 в наших музеях нет

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Republic P-47D-25 / P-47N Thunderbolt - СШАUSA - 1943Лавочкин Ла-9 - РоссияRussia - 1946МиГ МиГ-9 / И-300 - РоссияRussia - 1946Туполев Ту-2 - РоссияRussia - 1941Яковлев Як-11 - РоссияRussia - 1946Яковлев Як-17УТИ - РоссияRussia - 1947

Aviation Historian 8 / P.Jarrett - The Ugly Thuth?

Examination of this rather crowded deck scene reveals a Northrop P-61 Black Widow, two P-38 Lightnings and a pair of P-47D Thunderbolts on a superstructure of girders bolted and welded to the decks of the ship - probably a tanker - to allow the aircraft to be transported. What the white-encircled areas on the P-61B in the foreground refer to is unknown without the key which originally accompanied the pictures.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Lockheed P-38 Lightning - СШАUSA - 1939Republic P-47D-25 / P-47N Thunderbolt - СШАUSA - 1943

Aviation Historian 8 / P.Jarrett - The Ugly Thuth?

A close-up showing the anchorage for a P-61B Black Widow’s tailbooms aboard ship. The stencilling identifies this aircraft as 42-39672, which went on to serve with the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron at Eta in, France, in late 1944, with the name Little Audrey. The stencilling also includes the intriguing detail “PROJECT-92973-R" followed by “UGLY” - any clues as to what either of these may refer to would be gratefully received.

Aviation Historian 11 / D.Stern - Sub-zero Inc. (1)

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines of a Northrop P-61 Black Widow are simultaneously heated by ground heaters at Ladd towards the end of the war. The long lines on the wing covers were used to picket the aircraft during windy conditions.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Sqn CO Lt Col O. B. Johnson stands by Eugene Axtell's aircraft. Axtell was destined to become one of three Black Widow aces in Europe.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

A 422nd NFS P-61A gets a new name.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-11 / W.Thompson - Northrop's Mean Lady

Gear failure on P-61A 42-5573, Lovely Lady, at its base in France, 1944. 422nd NFS pilot was Raymond A. Anderson.

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

The still-smouldering remains of N30020 at the bottom of Gibbon Creek Canyon in the early evening of August 23, 1963. Pilot Bob Savaria was highly experienced, having been in Hawaii on the day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the latter prompting him to enlist in the USAAF the same day.

АэроХобби 1992-01 / Аэроархив /Коллекция "АХ"/

Ночной истребитель Northrop P-61B-15 "Black Widow", 1945 год, пилот Кэролл Смит.

Мировая Авиация 80

P-61 В Black Widow. Изображенный здесь самолет №42-39404 был вторым P-61, носившим имя "Midnite Madness". Рисунки в носовой части фюзеляжей самолетов "Midnite Madness I" и "Midnite Madness II" были идентичными. На этом самолете летал экипаж капитана Джеймса У. Брэдфорда из 548-й ночной истребительной эскадрильи. Взлетев с аэродрома Иежима в ночь на 24 июня 1945 года, экипаж в составе Брэдфорда, оператора РАС 1-го лейтенанта А. К. Аанта и воздушного стрелка мастер-сержанта P. X. Сукоу уничтожил Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" - это была одна из пяти побед 548-й эскадрильи. Утром того же дня P-61 из 549-й эскадрильи сбил недалеко от Иводзимы еще один "Betty", записав на счет эскадрильи единственную в той войне победу. Дальнейшая судьба "Midnite Madness II" неясна - самолет либо разбился вскоре после войны, либо оказался на известном "кладбище самолетов" на авиабазе Кларк. Джеймс Брэдфорд стал командиром группы в авиашколе по подготовке летчиков полетам по приборам (авиабаза Муди), принимал участие в корейской войне (летал на истребителе F-86) в качестве военного советника южнокорейских ВВС, служил по обмену в британских ВВС (летал на Meteor T.Mk 7), затем стал командиром авиакрыла на учебно-тренировочной авиабазе Ларедо, штат Техас, и завершил карьеру в звании полковника в Пентагоне.

Мировая Авиация 80

P-61B Black Widow

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

A page from a rare brochure produced by Los-Angeles-based Aircraft Sales Ltd for potential customers for N30020. The brochure declared that it was “the first time a P-61 has been offered for sale to the public” and encouraged prospective purchasers to consider converting the type into a high-performance executive aircraft.

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

All nose details from 9th Air Force P-61As (based Britain and/or Normandy, summer/autumn, 1944, and featuring invasion striping as per 42-5564) with exception of nose illustrated in the centre of the righthand column, this belonging to a P-61B-1 (Serial No 42-39405) of the 6th NFS at Kagman Field, Saipan, 1944. This particular machine was fitted with a dorsal barbette.

Jane's All the World Aircraft 1946 / 03 - All the world's aeroplanes

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow.

Моделист-Конструктор Истребители Второй мировой войны

P-61B-20-NO Black Widow

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

P-61A

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

P-61B

Авиация и Космонавтика 1999-10 / ??? - Northrop P-61 Black Widow /Тяжелые истребители/ (18)

P-61C

Air Enthusiast 1971-06 / ??? - The "Widow"

Aviation Historian 4 / M.O'Leary - Out of the Black

Northrop P-61B-1 s/n 42-39419, with its civil registration N30020, during its tenure with Boise, Idaho-based Ranchers Inc following the company’s acquisition of the Black Widow in April 1963. The aircraft was fitted with Curtiss Electric propellers, the logo of which was applied to both of its props. Also shown above is the SCR-270 radar equipment carried in the nose of early P-61s.