Reading some articles in
Wings (june 2005), quoting pilots who flew the thing and did field demonstrations for active fighter units which were then using other planes, there was enough special about the bird to warrant use in the daytime too. Although designed as a night fighter, it was used in day operations as well == I remember a dramatic sequence in
Ghost Soldiers when the infiltrating Rangers had a Black Widow do acrobatics and mimic strafing runs to keep Japanese prison guards looking up while the Rangers moved from cover the afternoon before their assault on Cabanatuan.
The Widow had full span double slotted flaps with spoilers for lateral control; that enabled it to do maneuvers like this one, described by test pilot John Myers:
It took about three minutes to perform and it made a lasting impression on every pilot that flew the demo with me... I utilized a very short take off roll which woudl compare with a much smaller aircraft. Then, wheels up quickly, sharp turn and back across the deck at redline 450mph. Followed by a loop and back down on the deck again (Immelman). As I came out of this maneuver, I feathered one engine on the way down to the deck, and then did two slow rolls off the deck INTO the dead engine! By this time, i was on approach, and touched down and taxied into the parking area after a very short roll...
With that kind of capability, 4xhispanos, and 4x50s -- I'd learn to fly it no matter where the sun shone!
