The Most Chilling Plane of WW2

Piloting a P-61 Black Widow was both an electrifying and daunting mission. As the first American aircraft built specifically for night fighting, its futuristic design and cutting-edge technology seemed light years ahead. Unlike the conventional single-engine fighters, this beauty showcased raw power and ingenuity with her sleek twin-boom design and central fuselage pod. Yet, the thought of dogfighting as an interceptor in the night sky's darkness was enough to chill any pilot to the bone.

Clocking in at over 350 miles per hour, the Black Widow could tear through the night sky, powered by her twin Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp engines, each unleashing 2,000 horsepower. This was a technical marvel never before seen in World War 2 combat aviation.

Armed to the teeth, she boasted four 20-millimeter Hispano M2 cannons and four .50 caliber machine guns in a dorsal turret, making her a flying fortress. If that wasn’t enough, the top-secret SCR-720 microwave radar tucked under her nose made her a predator in the darkness.

Every curve and detail of the P-61 Black Widow screamed defiance. Her black-painted form vanished into the night, visible only to those unfortunate enough to fall into her radar’s grasp.

New pilots felt a cold shiver down their spines at the thought of braving the perilous night skies over Europe and the Pacific. But once they took the controls, it became clear: with her advanced radar technology and pitch-black paint job, the Black Widow reigned supreme. She quickly earned her reputation as one of the safest planes to fly and one of the most lethal foes in night combat, even being able to shoot down enemy planes without ever making visual contact…

[outersketcher]

When I was a kid, I put together the Revell Model of the Black Widow. Two months later, the wings had been broken off and it spent the next three months as a submarine, complete with gun turret, in the bathtub.

[johnwillis]

My dad flew B-17's over Europe during WWII. As the war in Europe wound down he was re-assigned to a fighter training in Dec.1944. He trained to fly the P-61 and after training he flew them in the European theater for the 414th until the war ended. After the war he returned to his profession as an electrician. In 1961 he got wind that the air Force were surplusing the P-61-A, B and a few S models. He went to Richards/Gabouer air base where they were being sold, basically as scrape, and found his old plane there a P-61 S, her name was "Mysterious Mary", and he bought her for the princely sum at that time, of $5500. Stripped of her guns and other "secret" equipment. Dad worked on her for years and years getting her ready to fly again. Dad passed away twelve years ago without getting her ready. I've been working on her since and I'm getting close. I have to get all the Lexan glazing made. I'm shooting for July 4th, 2025 for her first flight.

[bermudaguy]

Thanks for this! My Dad flew the P-61 during WWII. His "birds" name was Moon Light Sonata, his name Lester Vohs. The picture of his plane is hung on the wall beside me which also includes The Distinguished Flying Cross & Thunderstorm Project patch. I hope someone who knows him, or his crew might enjoy reading this. I will save this video to refer to occasionally.

[DeFaltaver]

This airplane is seared into my mind at an early age! My family lived in Long Beach in 1944 and my mother would fix a picnic lunch on my Dad's day off from welding at Shell Oil and drive to the airplane factories in LA. We were parked near one building next to a large runway covered with high netting when a factory door opened and this scary, shiny black bomber came out with props turning., it looked like a giant P-38!! I never forgot the feeling I had that the enemies were going to be in for it for sure!!

[akennas]

Lt. Col. Richard O. "Dick" Stewart flew these in the 419th in the South Pacific. He first had a P-38J which he named "Elusive Susie" and had two confirmed kills. When the P-61s finally arrived, he of course named his "Elusive Susie II", but had no additional kills. A post-note: after he went back stateside, he went on a double-date in San Francisco right after V-J Day and found his elusive Susie in the other man's date. Her name was Susanne Sharp, and they were married for 69 years until he died in 2015. They were my parents.

[flashpackets]

My dad flew the P61 in WWII. Out of a graduating class of 100 pilots only he and one other survived the war. Needless to say, he didn't talk about the war at all, although he did love that airplane. It was named Plenty Peed Off Patootie III

[proteusnz]

The P-61 was an all-weather interceptor, not a dog fighter. Night fighting was stalking then a quick kill, not prolonged manoeuvring. It had to be big to accommodate the valve technology radar, and needed a long development period. However, you can’t help wondering whether a nightfighter conversion of the Martin B-26 (which used the same R-2800 engines) might not have reached the same goal quicker. The early planning for the Douglas A-26 included a nightfighter option.
The lateral control was interesting using spoilers with the small ailerons there mainly to provide pilot feel. The P-61C was among the first fighters to use airbrakes (rather than dive brakes)
But the P-61 had such an interesting shape.

[spaceted]

I made a Model of the Black Widow when I was a Boy and I really like the Aircraft.

[Charles-Windsor]

Little known fact : The helical radar was found to be an effective pie warmer and was much appreciated by the crews on extended loiter missions

[michaelwilson]

I was in the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron in the late 80s and early 90s. This plane is their namesake, the Black Widows.

[googleeyeseyes]

The last series built were capable of 430 mph with the originals at 366 level flying.

[GunstockBayA]

The greatest mission of all for all Black Widows, was 'Hard To Get' she flew over Cabanabutuan prison camp as a distraction to allow Bull Simon and Rangers to sneak up to the camp. The surviving Japanese described the P61 as a frightening, unwordly insect

[jeffrains]

My mom's brother flew in those during the war. He was in the back. He got shot down twice and survived. He was rescued by the natives, cannibals in fact. They hated the Japanese so much they were willing to help us. There is a documentary with footage taken during the war showing the return of our people, one of whom was my uncle!

[davebowrin]

When I worked at the National Air and Space museum Udvar Hazy Center. They have a Black Widow on display. #1 a former pilot of the Black Widow came there. The aircraft is very unique and larger than what I imagined it to be. But it always got ALOT of attention from visitors and it was a favorite of the museum. 😊😊😊

[simongee]

In early WW2, Britian had the Bristol Beaufighter in the night fighter role. Equipped with radar, four 20mm Hispano cannon & six .303 machine guns, it did good service along with the later DeHavilland Mosquito.

[craigpennington]

You've got to feed all those horses. This was a large aircraft & has a mean vicious bite. Love these My #4 favorite of WWII. Hope to see one fly before I leave. Outstanding aircraft.

[carlosfalcon]

My father was a gunner on the 419th NFS aircraft “Old Salty Dog II”. His favorite A/C and he served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

[noelwarner]

Coolest and most underrated WW2 aircraft.Also a cool model to build.The Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio has a p61.A great thing to see one in person, I dont know if any are still flying.

[-C.S.R]

My grandpa flew the P-61 in the Pacific! He only had the greatest things to say about the Black Widow.
🫡🇺🇸

[stubryant]

Was privileged to have an older friend and fellow ham operator who had been a radar operator in these in the CBI theater. Wish I could have visited with him more. He was my dad's generation. I thoroughly enjoyed the many men I got to know who served in WW2. I got a couple stories out of him, but he never got very specific about particular missions other than mentioning having to fly through the Himalayas as I recall.