Garry R. Pape

John M. Campbell

Donna Campbell

The Northrop P-61 was the first airplane designed form the start to be a night fighter. With its advanced radar and electronics, high speed, maneuverability and heavy armament, it was as deadly as its namesake: the poisonous Black Widow spider. Northrop P-61 Black Widow uncovers the complete history of this once-secret warplane. The result of over 26 years of original research, this book brings you astonishing detail on all the P-61 variants, from the first XP-61 prototype through the final long range escort and photo-recon versions. Dozens of photos and original Northrop and Army Air Force blueprint drawings show every technical detail of this ahead of-its-time aricraft, its engines, aradar and electronics. This is the complete Black Widow combat diary - all the aces and all the victories, told through first person combat stories. More than 150 black and white and color photos show the Black Widow in action in the European, China-Burma-India and Pacific Theaters - the planes the pilots, the crewmen, the nose art and the markings. Also included are unit histories for each night fighter squadron that flew the Black Widow.

The Complete History and Combat Record

Northrop P-61 Black Widow

Ronald C. Harrison

This new book chronicles not only the aptly named P-61 "Black Widow", but also the Douglas P-70 series, the P-38 night fighter variants, the Bristol Beaufighter, B-25s and the DeHavilland Mosquito - the proposed XA-26A and the P-39 nightfighters are also discussed. Historical accounts of American night fighter pilots, as well as the complets history of all night fighter squadrons formed during World War II are included, as is the development of radar and modern air defenses. This book is the product of over twenty years of study and research. Its sources include the National Archives, Northrop Aircraft archived, the U.S. Air Force Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and interviews with P-61 test pilots, designers and engineers. Garry Pape's previous works include books on the P-61 and the P-38 night-fighter versions. He is currently employed by Northrop, after years with Hughes and Lockheed, and lives in California. Brig. Gen. Ronald Harrison is an F-16 Wing Commander in the Air Force Reserves, and lives in Georgia as an attorney.

Garry R. Pape

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