Northrop B-61B 'Black Widow' #42-39449 by junge1
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Description
There are only four P-61s in existence worldwide, three of them on permanent static display.
P-61B No. 42-39715. Outside display at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
P-61C No. 43-8330. On display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
P-61C No. 43-8353. On display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio
P-61B No. 42-39445. Is being restored to flying condition by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Spaatz Field, Reading, Pennsylvania.
This fourth 'Black Widow' No. 42-39445 is the subject of an epic recovery and restoration project conceived and led by World War II veteran Eugene 'Pappy' Strine, co-founder of the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum was formed in 1980 for the purpose of acquiring the right to recover P-61B No. 39445 from its mountaintop crash site in New Guinea.
The 232nd B-model produced, No. 42-39445, was assigned to the 13th Air Force, 13th Fighter Command. It was the first P-61 delivered to the 550th Night Fighter Squadron at Hollandia, New Guinea.
After crashing during a test flight on 10 January 1945 near the top of Mount Cyclops, near Hollandia, New Guinea, it lay unrecovered for more than 40 years before being retrieved by Mid-Atlantic Air Museum volunteers (MAAM).
The P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for night interception of aircraft, and was the first aircraft specifically designed to use radar. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II. The first test flight was made on 26 May 1942, with the first production aircraft rolling off the assembly line in October 1943. The last aircraft was retired from government service in 1954 (Wikipedia).
General Characteristics: Specifications (P-61B-20-No)
Crew: 2-3 (pilot, radar operator, optional gunner)
Length: 49-ft 7-in (15.11m)
Wingspan: 66-ft 0-in (20.12mm)
Height: 14-ft 8-in (4.47m)
Wing area: 662.36-ft square (61.53 m square)
Empty Weight: 23,450lb (10,637kg)
Loaded Weight: 29,700lb (13,471kg)
Max takeoff weight: 36,200lb (16,420kg)
Power Plants: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-65W Double wasp radial engines. 2,250 hp (1,680kW) each
Propellers: Four-bladed Curtis Electric propeller, 1 per engine
Propeller diameter: 146-in (3.72m)
Fuel capacity:
Internal: 640 gal (2,423l) of AN-F-48 100/130
octane
External: Up to four 165 gal (625l) or 310 gal (1,173l) tanks under the wings
Performance:
Max Speed: 366mph(318kn, 589km/h) at 20,000-ft (6,095m)
Combat Range: 610 mi (520nmi, 982km)
Ferry Range: 1,900 mi (1,650nmi, 3,060km) with four external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 33,100-ft (10,600m)
Rate of Climb: 2,540ft/min (12.9m/s)
Time to altitude: 12min to 20,000-ft (6,100m) [1,667fpm]
Armament:
4 x 20mm (.79-in) Hispano M2 cannons in ventral fuselage, 200rpg
4 x .50-in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine guns remotely operated, full-traverse upper turret, 560rpg
Bombs: For ground attack, four bombs of up to 1,600lb (726kg) each or six 5-in (127mm) HVAR unguided rockets could be carried under the wings
Avionics:
SCR-720 (AI Mk x) search radar
SCR-695 tail warning radar (Wikipedia)
This picture was taken on 1 June 2012,
Sig...
Comments (40)
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God Bless.
starship64
This is a wonderful picture. The Black Widow is one of my favorite WWII planes. I can't wait to see this when they're finished restoring it.
jayfar
This is a super shot and some great info.
Rick68
Awesome back story and shot! Have to agree with starship64, my first airplane model(real life) was of the P-61 though I have always been fond of the P-47 Thunderbolt after reading the same title as a child.
auntietk
Restoration is such an amazing process! The mind boggles ... all those little details! Next time you come up we'll take you to Boeing's restoration hangar. It's a fun trip! :)
MrsLubner
Very interesting. The overall body shape is intriguing to me. Upper turret... most interesting. Love to see one fly.
junge1
Sounds like a good deal Tara!
junge1
This is a big plane - for a fighter- and it actually is starting to look like a plane. The previous years it seemed just bits and pieces. This restoration project is incredibly expansive and time consuming.
Faemike55
love to be in her when she flies Great shot and story
blinkings
Awesome shot of this rare old gal.
sandra46
AMAZING SHOT
rocdan
awesome capture
bobrgallegos
Outstanding capture and great info!
0rest4wicked
Have seen the one in DC. Great look at the restoration of this old bird!
onefromb5
I live a few miles away from the MAAM. I am waiting t see this historic aircraft flying again. They are restoring this aircraft through donations of time and money.
tigertim
Superb photo.. greta to see that there is a P61 being restored!
casmindo
Nice job Sig
bebert
very nicce capture
jocko500
cool
UteBigSmile
Eine tolle Flugmachine!
bmac62
Neat catch-up on all four and this one in particular. I read a little about this is some flying magazine a year ago... Only through love and dedication does something like this happen at all.
renecyberdoc
precious information and shot.
Maxidyne
I never knew there were so few. Great image and write up.
flavia49
fantastic capture
vis151
that's really neat! Thanks for the info.
ysvry
great foto of this nice plane.
nefertiabet
Fantastisches Bild und Info!!!
farmerC
Exellent shot.
drifterlee
Awesome WWII plane!
Richardphotos
On the night of 14 August 1945, a P-61B of the 548th Night Fight Squadron named "Lady in the Dark" was unofficially credited with the last Allied air victory before VJ Day. The P-61 was also modified to create the F-15 Reporter photo-reconnaissance aircraft for the United States Air Force. I read this during a search for the aircraft. it is a shame that aircraft with so much history was simply scrapped out