P-61 Black Widow, Night Fighter

[Karnak]

Oddly enough, they weren't liked in the Pacific.

You couldn't see over the engines on either side which made it impossible to fly formation at the altitudes they flew in the Pacific because you had to be below the other planes, which meant you were in the water.

[Ack-Ack]

You couldn't see over the engines on either side which made it impossible to fly formation at the altitudes they flew in the Pacific because you had to be below the other planes, which meant you were in the water.

One of the main reasons is that the 5th AF felt that it already had suitable planes for the missions they were tasked with and the A-26 wasn't really needed as the A-20, B-25 and B-26 were more than sufficient for the jobs needed to be done.  Some of the pilot's complaints were like the one you mentioned and also the early canopies on the Invader they received drew a lot of complaints from PTO pilots.

ack-ack

[Ruah]

without night, this plane is useless. . .

[Karnak]

without night, this plane is useless. . .

Why do you say that?  It flew daylight ops as well and would do very well in AH as a strike aircraft.

I can see calling it inappropriate, but useless, no.

[Butcher]

Without night time the Lancaster is useless, it still flies in the Main Arena just fine.

[earl1937]

Without night time the Lancaster is useless, it still flies in the Main Arena just fine.

Good Point

[Karnak]

Lancasters also flew daylight ops. 

As did P-61.

And Mossie 30.

[Ack-Ack]

Without night time the Lancaster is useless, it still flies in the Main Arena just fine.

Considering the Lancaster was not designed as a night bomber, I'm not surprised at all it does just fine in the MA without night.

ack-ack

[Lusche]

Without night time the Lancaster is useless, it still flies in the Main Arena just fine.

Well, maybe that depends on how one defines "doing fine".

It's K/D is substantially worse than the K/D of all other heavy bombers, it's survivability is quite low. The main reason it's so very popular is it's massive bombload which makes it so very attractive to so many players. 

[Butcher]

Considering the Lancaster was not designed as a night bomber, I'm not surprised at all it does just fine in the MA without night.

ack-ack

Well as lusche points out its a rather vulnerable bomber in the Main arena, I always wondered why they didn't just lose a few thousand pounds of ords and gave it far better defensive protection. Granted it served well as a night time bomber, I do know the British tried to R&D more defensive positions but it was given up when the war progressed.

But imagine if it flew a daylight raid against the Luftwaffe and lets say the target was schweinfurt - The P-61 might not survive as well as it did at night, but its chances are far better in Aces High with a skilled pilot then it being strictly night time.

[Karnak]

Well, maybe that depends on how one defines "doing fine".

It's K/D is substantially worse than the K/D of all other heavy bombers, it's survivability is quite low. The main reason it's so very popular is it's massive bombload which makes it so very attractive to so many players. 

As Tank-Ace is fond of pointing out, it is also about 25mph faster on the deck than the B-17 and B-24, which makes it better for the low alt smash and grab players.

[Slash27]

without night, this plane is useless. . .

Yeah, cause you say so

[Zacherof]

One must also remember 109'smand 190'smwere used as night fighters :old
And I need this plane

[captain1ma]