P-61 Black Widow Units of World War 2

Description

The first aircraft to be purposely designed as a radar-equipped nightfigher, Northrop's P-61 Black Widow was heavily influenced by early RAF combat experience with radar-equipped aircraft in 1940/41. Built essentially around the bulky Radiation Laboratory SCR-720 radar, which was mounted in the aircraft's nose, the P-61 proved to be the largest fighter ever produced for frontline service by the USAAF. Twin-engined and twin-boomed, the Black Widow was armed with a dorsal barbette of four 0.50-in Browning machine guns and two ventrally-mounted 20 mm cannon. This volume features all the frontline users of the mighty P-61, and includes many first-hand accounts from pilots and gunners who saw action in the Pacific, Mediterranean and Western Europe.

Warren Thompson has written three books on the Korean War for Osprey in the past, including the best-selling Korean War Aces in the Aircraft of the Aces series. He is also an official historian of the P-61 aircrew association. Mark Styling has illustrated several books in both the Aces and Combat Aircraft series. He has recently switched mediums from airbrush to Mac art, and has produced some of the best profiles Osprey has used to date in Combat Aircraft 18

"The P-61 Black Widow is one of the most interesting aircraft of WWII. Although it did not serve in great numbers, this technologically advanced aircraft had a pioneering role as a night fighter using radar and heavy armament to intercept enemy planes... The book has an appendix of P-61 victories, units and specifications of the different variants. Illustrated with many waritme photographs, the book also includes an extensive color plate and aircraft profile section." -"www.pacificwrecks.com"