United States Northrop P-61 "Black Widow" Night Fighter A.A.F. Serial Number: P-61B-1-NO 42-39434 (not confirmed) Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation, Hawthorne, California |
P-61 "Black Widow" nose section, Aircraft 27, above photo. The nose section of the P-61 is made of fiberglass for the SCR-720A Radar set. On the starboard side of this P-61 radome, are the traces of the number "27". These numbers remain present due to sun erosion of the original white numbers over the black paint. This Radome was recovered on Oahu, Hawaii in 1995. Some of original black paint and red stenciling remain on the outside of the Radome. Unfortunately, the radome is slightly cracked due to 50+ years of exposure. It may have been from one of the P-61 "Black Widow" aircraft, shown in the below photos, assigned to the 6th Night Fighter Squadron: assigned to Kipapa Gulch Army Airfield, Territory Hawaii, October 28th 1944 and later Wheeler Army Air Field, Territory Hawaii, October 2nd 1945 or the 549th Night Fighter Squadron: assigned to Kipapa Gulch Army Air Field, Territory Hawaii, October 20th 1944 to February 15th 1945. A phenolic nomenclature plate was found on the access door of this radome. It is marked: MODEL NO. P-61B, CONTRACT NO. A 21061, SERIAL N434, 517419 (Northrop P-61 part number), with Northrop inspection stamp N (over) 165. P-61B Contract Number AC-21061-2 included aircraft serial number 42-39338 through 42-39757. It is believed that the Serial Number on this nomenclature plate with number 434, under Contract AC-21061-2, is for P-61B-1-NO 42-39434, Construction Number 953, which was condemned and salvaged due to an accident, January 26th 1945. |
P-61 "Black Widow" gunners canopy, left photo. The P-61 had two canopies: one for the pilot and one for the gunner. This canopy was recovered from a scrap yard in Ewa, Hawaii U.S.A. after WWII. This canopy was obtained and traded by QuestMasters Museum to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Reading Pennsylvania, for the restoration of their P-61 in 1996. |
P-61 "Black Widow" engine propeller assembly for the R-2800 engine, left photo. This assembly retains almost all of its original paint and stenciling. The propeller cuff is marked: DWG NO. 714-702-12 SERIAL NO. 226156 ANGLE LOW 28.0 ANGLE HIGH 58.0 ANGLE FEATHER 89.5 AT-42 IN.STA This propeller assembly was not recovered by QuestMasters. |
P-61B-2-NO 42-39408 "Black Widow" "Lady in the Dark", left photo. This is one of the most famous pieces of Pacific P-61 Nose Art. On the night of August 14th 1945, a P-61B "Lady in the Dark" of the 548th Night Fight Squadron was unofficially credited with the last Allied air victory before VJ Day. |
Air Corps Photo 75056, April 1945, Oahu Hawaii, above photo. This photo is archived at the National Archives, College Park, Maryland, 342-FH-3A41110-75056AC. The photo was submitted April 1945, by Quentin R. Porter during Pacific Press Tour, Wheeler Army Air Force Base, Territory Hawaii. In this photo are B-24 "Liberator" and B-25 "Mitchell" Bombers, and five P-61 "Black Widow" Night Fighters. Three of these P-61's have the numbers 17, 28 and 32 painted on their nose radome, similar to the number 27 in the QuestMasters Museum collection. The two P-61s in the center of the photo do not have numbers painted on their nose radome. The P-61 in the center of the photo is P-61B-1-NO 42-39491, and the bottom center P-61 is P-61B-2-NO 42-39456, which was sent to reclamation, Misawa AB, Japan, June 6th 1949. |
Kipapa Army Air Field, 1945, Oahu Hawaii, above photo. Shown here are P-61 "Black Widow" night fighters and a P-47 "Thunderbolt" fighter at Kipapa Army Air Field, Oahu, United States Territory of Hawaii, 1945. The P-61 in the far right of the photo has 29 painted on the Radome. |
Kipapa Army Air Field, 1945, Oahu Hawaii, above photo. Shown here are P-61 "Black Widow" night fighters at Kipapa Army Air Field, Oahu, United States Territory of Hawaii, 1945. The P-61 in the foreground of the photo has 29 painted on the Radome. |
Air Corps Photo 75056, April 1945, Oahu Hawaii, above photo. This photo is archived at the National Archives, College Park, Maryland, 342-FH-3A41111-A75056AC. The photo was submitted April 1945, by Quentin R. Porter during Pacific Press Tour, Wheeler Army Air Force Base, Territory Hawaii. In this photo are B-24 "Liberator" and B-25 "Mitchell" Bombers, and five P-61 "Black Widow" Night Fighters. Three of these P-61's have the numbers 17, 28 and 32 painted on their nose radome, similar to the number 27 in the QuestMasters Museum collection. The two P-61s in the center of the photo do not have numbers painted on their nose radome. The P-61 in the center of the photo is P-61B-1-NO 42-39491, and the bottom center P-61 is P-61B-2-NO 42-39456, which was sent to reclamation, Misawa AB, Japan, June 6th 1949. |
The Northrop P-61 "Black Widow" was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed to use radar. The P-61 had a crew of three: pilot, gunner, and radar operator. The aircraft was armed with four 20mm Hispano AN-M2 forward-firing cannons mounted in the lower fuselage, and four .50 caliber AN-M2 Browning machine guns mounted in a remote-controlled dorsal (top) gun turret. The first test flight was made on May 26th 1942, with the first production aircraft rolling off the assembly line in October 1943. Production ceased at the end of WWII. The last aircraft was retired from government service in 1954. The "Black Widow" was effectively operated as a night-fighter by United States Army Air Forces squadrons in the European Theater, Pacific Theater, China Burma India Theater, and Mediterranean Theater during World War II. A total of 706 aircraft were produced during WWII, with only four complete aircraft remaining in museums, plus the P-61 nose radome (radar dome), shown below, in the QuestMasters Museum collection. P-61 "Black Widow" production and contract numbers: XP-61 - 2; YP-61 - 13; P-61-1,5 - 80; P-61A-10 - 120; P-61B - 450; P-61C - 41; XP-61D (1); XP-61E (1); XP-61F (1) YP-61 41-18876 to 41-18888, Contract Number AC-18086, $649,584 per aircraft P-61A 42-5485 to 42-5634, Contract Number AC-21061, $222,535 per aircraft P-61A 42-39348 to 39397, Contract Number DA-AC-1044, $200,165 per aircraft P-61B 42-39338 to 42-39757, Contract Number AC-21061-2, $276,134 per aircraft P-61B 43-8231 to 43-8320, Contract Number AC-29319, $178,777 per aircraft P-61C 43-8321 to 43-8437, Contract Number AC-29319, $178,777 per aircraft P-61C 45-1 to 45-400, Contract Number AC-29319-24&33, $199,598 per aircraft Surviving P-61 "Black Widow" Night Fighter Aircraft: P-61B-1NO 42-39445, Craft Number 964, is under restoration to flying status by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania. P-61B-15NO 42-39715, Craft Number 1234, is on static display inside the Beijing Air and Space Museum) at Beihang University in Beijing, China. P-61C-1NO 43-8330, Craft Number 1376, is on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. P-61C-1NO 43-8353, Craft Number 1399, is currently on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. P-61B-1-NO 42-39434 (pending confirmation), Nose Radome, Aircraft 27, QuestMasters Museum. Information compiled by QuestMasters Museum between: U.S. Army Aircraft, 1908-1946, by Fahey; Technical Order No 00-25-30, August 1st 1945, Unit Costs of Aircraft and Engines. |
Northrop P-61 "Black Widow" Serial Number List: YP-61 41-18876 to 41-18888, Contract Number AC-18086, $649,584 per aircraft P-61A 42-5485 to 42-5634, Contract Number AC-21061, $222,535 per aircraft P-61A 42-39348 to 39397, Contract Number DA-AC-1044, $200,165 per aircraft 42-5485/5529 Northrop P-61A-1-NO Black Widow 42-5530/5564 Northrop P-61A-5-NO Black Widow 5559 was modified as XP-61D 42-5565/5604 Northrop P-61A-10-NO Black Widow 5587 was modified as XP-61D 42-5605/5606 Northrop P-61A-11-NO Black Widow 42-5607 Northrop P-61A-10-NO Black Widow 42-5608/5614 Northrop P-61A-11-NO Black Widow 42-5615/5634 Northrop P-61A-10-NO Black Widow 42-39348/39374 Northrop P-61A-10-NO Black Widow 42-39375/39384 Northrop P-61A-11-NO Black Widow 42-39385/39386 Northrop P-61A-10-NO Black Widow 42-39387 Northrop P-61A-11-NO Black Widow 42-39388/39397 Northrop P-61A-10-NO Black Widow P-61B 42-39338 to 42-39757, Contract Number AC-21061-2, $276,134 per aircraft P-61B 43-8231 to 43-8320, Contract Number AC-29319, $178,777 per aircraft 42-39398/39401 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39402 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39403/39405 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39406 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39407 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39408 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39409/39411 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39412/39414 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39415/39417 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39418 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39419/39423 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39424 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39425 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39426 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39427 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39428 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39429 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39430 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39431 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39432 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39433/39451 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39452/39456 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39457/39460 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39461/39462 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39463/39465 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39466 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39467/39470 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39471/39473 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39474 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39475 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39476/39477 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39478/39480 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39481/39482 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39483/39490 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39491 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39492/39493 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39494 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39495 Northrop P-61B-2-NO Black Widow 42-39496/39497 Northrop P-61B-1-NO Black Widow 42-39498/39500 Northrop P-61B-5-NO Black Widow 42-39501/39547 Northrop P-61B-6-NO Black Widow 42-39548/39572 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 39549 and 39557 converted to XP-61E 42-39573/39611 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39612 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39613 Northrop P-61B-25-NO Black Widow 42-39614 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39615 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39616 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39617 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39618 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39619 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39620 Northrop P-61B-16-NO Black Widow 42-39621 Northrop P-61B-11-NO Black Widow 42-39622 Northrop P-61B-16-NO Black Widow 42-39623 Northrop P-61B-11-NO Black Widow 42-39624 Northrop P-61B-16-NO Black Widow 42-39625 Northrop P-61B-11-NO Black Widow 42-39626 Northrop P-61B-16-NO Black Widow 42-39627 Northrop P-61B-11-NO Black Widow 42-39628 Northrop P-61B-16-NO Black Widow 42-39629 Northrop P-61B-11-NO Black Widow 42-39630 Northrop P-61B-16-NO Black Widow 42-39631/39633 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39634/39636 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39637/39639 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39640/39641 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39642 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39643 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39644 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39645 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39646 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39647 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39648/39649 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39650 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39651 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39652 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39653 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39654 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39655 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39656 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39657 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39658 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39659/39661 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39662 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39663/39665 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 42-39666/39667 Northrop P-61B-10-NO Black Widow 42-39668/39757 Northrop P-61B-15-NO Black Widow 43-8231/8236 Northrop P-61B-25-NO Black Widow 43-8237/8320 Northrop P-61B-20-NO Black Widow P-61C 43-8321 to 43-8437, Contract Number AC-29319, $178,777 per aircraft P-61C 45-1 to 45-400, Contract Number AC-29319-24&33, $199,598 per aircraft 43-8321/8361 Northrop P-61C-1-NO Black Widow Modification of 8338 as XP-61F canceled. 43-8362/8437 Northrop P-61C Black Widow - contract canceled 45-001/400 Northrop P-61C Black Widow - contract canceled Information compiled by QuestMasters Museum between: U.S. Army Aircraft, 1908-1946, by Fahey; Technical Order No 00-25-30, August 1st 1945, Unit Costs of Aircraft and Engines; and Joe Baugher Military Aviation. |
P-61 "BLACK WIDOW" NIGHT FIGHTER, ON OAHU HAWAII, DURING WWII: |
Individual Aircraft Record Card, P-61B 42-39434, above photo. This record card shows the history of P-61B 42-39434, obtained from the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), Maxwell AFB, Alabama. This aircraft was delivered and transferred to the Pacific Theater on November 9th 1944. The last entry shows LEFT (code for Brisbane, Australia) CON (condemned) ACC (accident) 12645 (January 26th 1945). The card does not show any other information for what happened to this aircraft, or the location of the accident. This P-61 may have been repaired or used for parts to repair other aircraft. Unfortunately, this record card does not have enough information to 100% identify the P-61 nose RADOME, shown above. Pacific Campaign accident cards were not retained after WWII, so additional information is not currently available. The last line on this card was entered as an error. This information is for P-61B 43-39435, which is why it has a line drawn through it. |