Author Topic: P-61B black widow  (Read 1926 times)

Offline Obie303

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1775
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #15 on: August 22, 2010, 11:03:30 PM »
I found this site with regards to the widow's last kill.

In a way, the P-61 was unofficially credited with the last Allied air kill of World War 2. Unofficial in that the enemy aircraft - a Japanese Nakajima Ki-44 - was reportedly in evasive maneuvers after having encountered an American P-61, its guns blazing on the Nakajima fighter. The enemy fighter flew defensively just feet above the waves and eventually crashed itself along the surface of the ocean, ending the life of the pilot and his mount in a fiery explosion. The P-61 in question was a P-61B-2 aptly-named "Lady in the Dark" and under the control of Lieutenant Robert W. Clyde. The event occurred sometime between August 14th and 15th. If credited, the kill would have been accomplished without a single shot being fired.

website:
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=78
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
(quote on a Polish pilot's grave marker in Nottinghamshire, England)

71 (Eagle) Squadron

Offline Scherf

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3409
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #16 on: August 23, 2010, 01:41:31 AM »
The black widow shot down lots of enemy planes the most planes shoot down by a night fighter was set in a black widow :airplane:

*sigh*
... missions were to be met by the commitment of alerted swarms of fighters, composed of Me 109's and Fw 190's, that were strategically based to protect industrial installations. The inferior capabilities of these fighters against the Mosquitoes made this a hopeless and uneconomical effort. 1.JD KTB

Offline Bronk

  • Persona Non Grata
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9044
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #17 on: August 23, 2010, 05:37:52 AM »
Karnak anti ameri ac whine in 3... 2...
See Rule #4

Offline Saxman

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9155
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #18 on: August 23, 2010, 07:15:33 AM »
There's more aircraft that are needed first, but this one would be nice to see eventually. Certainly has a stronger case for being added than the P-63.
Ron White says you can't fix stupid. I beg to differ. Stupid will usually sort itself out, it's just a matter of making sure you're not close enough to become collateral damage.

Offline fbWldcat

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2970
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #19 on: August 23, 2010, 07:53:27 AM »
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,261688.0.html

This is a thread with a lot of no in it. (Most other ones are filled with remarks about the OP being made by a noob).

But click on the link and it will take you to the thread and ultimately you will know Karnak's future answer.
Landing is overrated.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I: I took the one less traveled by." - Robert Frost
"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." <S>

Offline fbWldcat

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2970
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #20 on: August 23, 2010, 07:57:12 AM »
When you hear enemy horror stories you usually hear about the later models, which were excellent craft. The A and B models could hold their own, but weren't anywhere near the level of performance as say... the C model?  :aok
Landing is overrated.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I: I took the one less traveled by." - Robert Frost
"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." <S>

Offline waystin2

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10166
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #21 on: August 23, 2010, 11:37:13 AM »
+1 for the Widow :aok
CO for the Pigs On The Wing
& The nicest guy in Aces High!

Offline Ack-Ack

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 25260
      • FlameWarriors
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #22 on: August 23, 2010, 01:17:08 PM »
Ki-45 is something else between a 110 and a Mossie, and its not ammerican, and had more wepon load outs, and also worked durring the day  :aok

And was nothing but cannon fodder for the Allies.  This is McGuire's comments he wrote in his "Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Area" in 1944.

Quote
Nick - There haven't been many of these twin-engine fighters in this area and with their poor performance they are becoming scarcer as P-38 pilots and others prove that this is one Japanese fighter they can out-turn, out-run, and out-climb. The NICK is structurally strong and there will be some difficulty in diving away, but then it won't be necessary unless he gets close on your tail.


ack-ack
"If Jesus came back as an airplane, he would be a P-38." - WW2 P-38 pilot
Elite Top Aces +1 Mexican Official Squadron Song

Offline redwing7

  • Copper Member
  • **
  • Posts: 288
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #23 on: August 23, 2010, 04:01:19 PM »
Tell me it wouldn't be fun to fly under a set of lancs and turn those 50's loose. :aok
THUNDER MOB

"and when they bury me, may it be face down...so all my critics can kiss my ass!"  Bobby Knight

Offline AceHavok

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 510
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #24 on: August 23, 2010, 04:43:00 PM »
+1 for the P-61 that was one great night fighter.  :aok
Currently inactive.


Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. - Albert Einstein

Offline Karnak

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 23047
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #25 on: August 23, 2010, 09:58:17 PM »
Karnak anti ameri ac whine in 3... 2...
I read the thread when it was first posted.  I didn't comment because I had nothing to add.  The P-61 is a neat aircraft that would be used a lot for base attacks in AH, probably replacing the Bf110G-2 in that role.  It was highly maneuverable, more so than its size would lead one to expect, but its performance would probably disappoint many people who are used to speed demons rather than something about as fast as an N1K2-J.


EDIT:

Don't mistake my posts in threads asking for aircraft that never participated as me being anti-American.  I'd like to see the B-29A and the P-61.  I am not nearly so keen on the P-63, F7F, F8F or P-80 as they did not fight.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2010, 10:00:59 PM by Karnak »
Petals floating by,
      Drift through my woman's hand,
             As she remembers me-

Offline Saxman

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9155
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #26 on: August 23, 2010, 11:17:14 PM »
I am not nearly so keen on the P-63...as [it] did not fight.

P-63 fanboi rant in 3... 2...
Ron White says you can't fix stupid. I beg to differ. Stupid will usually sort itself out, it's just a matter of making sure you're not close enough to become collateral damage.

Offline STXAce8

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 724
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #27 on: August 24, 2010, 08:52:55 AM »
Also come to think of it, we do have some night only aircraft. The lancs?
ZLA- Don't Focke Wulf Us!
Ingame: Batz
Kommando Nowotny
Its over the top as Fack

Offline Ack-Ack

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 25260
      • FlameWarriors
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #28 on: August 24, 2010, 01:31:01 PM »
Also come to think of it, we do have some night only aircraft. The lancs?

Lancasters were used in both day light and night bombing missions, as were the other bombers in Aces High.


ack-ack
"If Jesus came back as an airplane, he would be a P-38." - WW2 P-38 pilot
Elite Top Aces +1 Mexican Official Squadron Song

Offline Nemisis

  • Persona Non Grata
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4086
      • Fightin 49'ers
Re: P-61B black widow
« Reply #29 on: August 24, 2010, 02:38:43 PM »
Well, were they used predominantly at night? That would be a start anyway.
All man needs to be happy is a home, his wife, and a place in the world

Col. 49Nem, Armor commander of the 49th