Northrop P-61 Black Widow

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Northrop P-61 Black Widow

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first US aircraft designed and built specifically for night combat. The first of two XP-61s (s/n 41-19509) flew on 21 May 1942. By the summer of 1944 the type was in service and by the end of that year was operating over Europe from bases in France. The P-61 was equipped with radar and carried a conventional armament of four 20 mm cannon and four 12.7 mm machine guns. The main models in service before VE Day were the P-61-1/5, P-61 A, P-61 B and C. These were generally similar, except for the power unit model and the absence of dorsal turrets on the P-61A and B and some P-61-1s. A photographic version was designated F-15.
Production: 706 aircraft.

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/northrop-p-61c-black-widow/nasm_A19510044000

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