I had an uncle that was a pilot in P-61s in WWII. I say that as a distinct plural of “P-61s”, as he had 2 “shot out from under him” (his words, not mine!) The rule was, as a defensive gunner on anything from bombers to Seaplanes, you shot anything that had its nose pointed at you! So in the dark, as the P-61 approached an unknown, unidentified aircraft to identify it as friend or enemy, it was vulnerable. The P-61 couldn’t fire on the bogie until it was positively identified as enemy. BUT…the aircraft being approached would do their damnedist to destroy the approaching unidentified airplane, hence losing 2 aircraft TO FRIENDLY FIRE! His name was Gilbert Lewis, and his aircraft were named Chattanooga Choo Choo (1,II, and finally, III). Great video!
Years ago, I attended the retirement party of an older colleague. I noticed he had photos of his WWII service, which featured a big, black, twin engine plane. When I asked him about the Black Widow, he was surprised I knew what it was. Those heros are all gone now. 😢
The Mid Atlantic Air Museum near Reading, Pennsylvania has one that they are restoring to airworthy. A very long term project but it’s starting to look like an airplane again. Will be great to finally see it fly someday.
With 4 20mms and 4 50 calibers , The bite is worthy of the Black Widow name
Sweet, one of my favorite planes. Surprisingly maneuverable for its size, and all those cannons to just rip up anything in your way.
I was blessed to know two gentlemen who flew the P-61 Black Widows during WW2. One flew over the Channel out of England and the other flew in the South Pacific and also wrenched on his own plane. That gentlemen was a very gifted mechanic and machinist. I knew him since I was a child. Much respect to both gentlemen.
I never understood how anyone saw the P-61 as ugly/unsightly. That thing is WICKED/HELLA cool! Since day one! The official confirmed kills might seem small, but they have a more subtle, psychological effect on enemy pilots who suddenly have to take into account that there are predators looking for them. Predators they couldn't see/detect until it was too late, game over.
My grandfather mentioned seeing these planes flying doing fleet defense at the end of the war, of course everyone was jumpy at the idea of kamikaze attacks so he said the pilot would have to drop a flare to illuminate the aircraft to indicate it was a friendly
I got to meet many of these guys who flew it back in the day, a very special group of guys and aircraft.
Seeing the P-61, one of my favorite planes of the war, is one more reason for me to finally make that trip to the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson.
The rugged and powerful Black Widows served as Hurricane hunters post war. I made myself a Key Rack from scratch very faithful to the big warbird. I got to visit and contribute to the MAAM restoration project. Along with the Skyraider these brutes epitomize radial powered combat excellence.
One of my favourite model kits, the P61 as a kid
RADAR development in the late 1930s was impressive and beneficial to both Air and Naval combatants. Truly a 'Force-Multiplier'. First-look, First-shot, First-kill.
There is an airframe under restoration in Pennsylvania. Seeing this in person at Reading airport, knowing it will fly again... Wow. What a machine.
Well done documentary on the P-61. The development of radar technology was just as important if not more so, than jet engines or missiles.
Check it; the guy who ran the book store at my college flew one of these AND a member of the AVG!
My father was based in Alaska with the USAAF during the end of WW2 and the beginning of the Cold War. The Soviets were seen as a serious threat, so most of the most modern aircraft were based out on the Aleutian air bases where Dad served. The P-62 and P-82 twin Mustang were common sights, and Dad often rode as a passenger in the rear of a p-61 Black Widow. It was his favorite plane, as the advanced avionics made it a safer ride in the terrible weather they had to fly through.
My father lived in our family-run hotels in India since birth in the 1920s. During WWII, many servicemen stayed at our hotels, and because we had the only swimming pool in Delhi, this hotel was popular. The author of the book, "Into the Teeth of the Tiger", Donald Lopez was a fighter pilot who stayed at this hotel and wrote about it in his book (he got the hotel's name wrong, its the Lautentian, not the Dehli Hotel.. My father was home from boarding school in the summer of 1943, just before he enlisted in the Royal Navy (which was illegal, oddly enough*). He became friends with several officers around the pool and was often offered ice-cold Coca-Cola in buckets of ice but he hated that beverage his entire life because of its high sugar content. One day an odd aircraft flew over and my father pointed at it and exclaimed loudly, "Look a P-61!". Since most of the officers lounging about (from the RAF and the USAF) were from the USAF, several grabbed my father and yelled at him, "How the hell do you know that aircraft is a P-61! That's top secret. No one is supposed to know that!". My father shrank back from the verbal assault and then feebly pointed to a group of officers sitting by the pool playing cards and explained, "Because every time that aircraft flies over, those guys over there yell out, "Oh look! It's our new P-61!". My father stated to me that it was 1943 because he joined the Royal Navy upon graduating from school before the summer of 1944 and was in the Royal Navy training camp in Sir Lanka where he was stuck for months due to contracting Malaria, Dysentry, and Tropical Sprue. He was later transferred to the UK in Scotland in 1944-46. * All men wanting to join the navy, who were born in India had to join the Royal Indian Navy. They were prohibited from serving in the Royal Navy. If they didn't have this law, it was feared that few would join the Royal Indian Navy. My father circumvented this because our family had military and royal family connections and an exception was granted.
That bird was like a test fart, stealthy and deadly. Thanks for the history!
@worldofwarbirds