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, and the first aircraft designed specifically as a night fighter.
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 lower fuselage, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in a dorsal gun turret. Developed during the war, the first test flight was made on May 26, 1942, with the first production aircraft rolling off the assembly line in October 1943.
Although not produced in the large numbers of its contemporaries, the Black Widow was operated effectively as a night fighter by United States Army Air Forces squadrons in the European Theater, Pacific Theater, China Burma India Theater, and Mediterranean Theater during World War II. It replaced earlier British-designed night-fighter aircraft that had been updated to incorporate radar when it became available. After the war, the P-61 was redesignated as the F-61 and served in the United States Air Force as a long-range, all-weather, day/night interceptor for Air Defense Command until 1948, and for the Fifth Air Force until 1950. The last aircraft was retired from government service in 1954.
On the night of 14 August 1945, a P-61B of the 548th Night Fighter Squadron named Lady in the Dark was unofficially credited with the last Allied air victory before VJ Day. page needed] The P-61 was also modified to create the F-15 Reporter photo-reconnaissance aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces and subsequently the United States Air Force.
In August 1940, 16 months before the United States entered the war, the U.S. Air Officer in London, Lieutenant General Delos C. Emmons, was briefed on British research in radar (RAdio Detection And Ranging), which had been underway since 1935 and had played an important role in the nation’s defense against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. General Emmons was informed of the new Airborne Intercept radar (AI for short), a self-contained unit that could be installed in aircraft and operated independently of ground stations. In September 1940, the Tizard Mission traded British research, including the cavity magnetron, that would make self-contained interception radar installations practicable, for American production.
General Emmons returned to the U.S. with details of the British night-fighter requirements, and in his report said that the design departments of the American aviation industry’s firms could possibly produce such an aircraft.
Specifications (P-61B-20-NO)
Northrop P-61B Black Widow 3-view drawing
Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Northrop P-61 Black Widow.
General characteristics
Crew: 2–3 (pilot, radar operator, optional gunner)
Length: 49 ft 7 in (15.11 m)
Wingspan: 66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 662.36 sq ft (61.535 m2)
Airfoil: Zaparka
Empty weight: 23,450 lb (10,637 kg)
Gross weight: 29,700 lb (13,472 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 36,200 lb (16,420 kg)
Fuel capacity: 640 US gal (2,400 L) internal and up to four 165 US gal (625 L) drop tanks
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-65W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,250 hp (1,680 kW) each
Propellers: 4-bladed Curtiss Electric constant-speed feathering propellers, 12 ft 2 in (3.72 m) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 366 mph (589 km/h, 318 kn) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Range: 1,350 mi (2,170 km, 1,170 nmi)
Ferry range: 1,900 mi (3,100 km, 1,700 nmi) with four external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 33,100 ft (10,100 m)
Rate of climb: 2,540 ft/min (12.9 m/s)
Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,100 m) in 12 minutes
Wing loading: 45 lb/sq ft (220 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns: ** 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano AN/M2 cannon in ventral fuselage, 200 rounds per gun
4 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in remotely operated, full-traverse upper turret, 560 rpg
Bombs: for ground attack, four bombs of up to 1,600 lb (726 kg) each or six 5-in (127 mm) HVAR unguided rockets could be carried under the wings. Some aircraft could also carry one 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb under the fuselage.
Avionics
SCR-720 (AI Mk.X) search radar
SCR-695 tail warning radar
#p61 #blackwidow #aircraft
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The mosquito in the night fighter version was a much better plane. Ps the British were the first to put radars in night fighters, starting with Bristol blenheims in 1940 so this video is incorrect.
This guy keeps talking about the P-61 being "slow" which I don't understand? When I did the research for my P-61 book the crews of the 422nd NFS told me first hand that they had a bit of a competition with the RAF and their Mosquito and the P-61 basically out flew it, so the slow thing is BS. The main problem with the P-61, unlike the RAF and Luftwaffe is the American High Command had no idea how to use Night Fighters. Both the RAF and Luftwaffe were experts at this and both programs progressed at great levels throughout the war, you cannot say anything bad about either side on that. But the US in both Europe and in the Pacific the P-61's talents were wasted by Generals who did not have a clue to what they had. As a result they were never used to their full effect or potential, sad but true.
Thanks again Dronescapes, excellent doc!
The German UHU HE 219 was THE FIRST PURPOSE BUILT NIGHT FIGHTER ! It saw combat a full year before .German fighter pilot Schnauffer scored 127 night time kills.
Thanks for posting this, really made my day better and learned a bunch!
And like so many other WW2 aircraft they scrapped damn near all of them.
Hold on I learn that bf 110 as radars on them in beginning of battle of Britain so how this p 61 first night fighters man I am confused right now ok so can anyone tell why ,,,how,,,,, when this become first night fighters and not bf110 Nazi German had which rock up one of best kills against allies ….
A formidable machine for it's time but definitely not the first.
I saw a P-61 at an airshow a few years ago. It was in pristine condition and I talked to the owner and told him I'd always thought a 61 was one of the most beautiful birds that ever flew. He allowed me to go into the cockpit and sit in the pilot's seat. I've been an aviation buff since I can remember and that was a thrill I'll always remember.
Great video, love the plane……
But, …without even watching the video, the Black Widow is a perfect example of American Arms procurement even as it continues today: protracted development, massively over-budget and totally obsolete (not only technically but even in it's mission) by the time it actually got in the air… 😆
The UK turned the outdated Boulton Paul Defiant into a nightfighter but both the Beaufighter and Mosquito proved their worth in the battle
Simply, Not the First Night fighter..there were at least 4 type s of aircraft that had night fighting missions as their mission well before this.
The British had, night fighter ACES, years before the P61 saw combat.
Mosquito was still a better night fighter!
5 aircraft for 1.5 million $. Cost nearly that much just to fill them with fuel and ammo today.
The P 61 had almost no influence on WW2, however after the war it was used, with advanced for the time electronics, to monitor Russia and Communist China. It flew, at night over their territories for years. None were shot down as I recall.
I really like this aircraft. I tuned in to see if there was any information that I didn't know. I am very disappointed that there is so much repetition in this show. One minute the narrator gives the size information and armament, then, just a few moments later, all this information is repeated. This type of thing happened several times during the time I watched. I simply couldn't continue. If this were properly edited, it would probably be less than a half an hour.
Great vid!! @14:10 D-Day: Invasion Stripes? Cheers!
Nice aircraft, but a little late to the party. First US aircraft maybe. I would nominate the versatile Bristol Beaufighter, nightfighter variant, radar equipped by late 1940, the first kill on 19/20th Nov 1940. The main armament being the 4 20mm cannon, just under the nose mounted radar. By Jan 41, with new radar, it was considered one of the more effective night fighters of the era. Other variants, like torpedo bomber and a twin 40mm cannon for ground attack.
No. I think you'll find mosquitoes had that ability.
What a bute!!! //Lars
Another good vid spoilt by irritating back ground 'music'.
Busy aircraft.
First night fighter, tell that to the be2c be12 etc. They were operating in 1915.
Here we go again. The P- 61 wasn't the FIRST nightfighter. It WAS the first "US plane" that was purposely designed as a radar equipped nightfighter. Past that….I enjoyed the video. I happen to know a fair amount about the 61. My Dad was a crew chief on a 61 with the 427th NFS in the CBI.
The general should be Delos Emmons
Great video on an all time favorite.
An amazing aircraft.