Specialty Press

Northrop's Night Hunter P-61 Black Widow

by  Jeff Kolln

Reviewed By  Doug Hamilton, IPMS# 21985

MSRP: $39.95 ISBN: 1-58007-122-8 Website: www.specialtypress.com There were many aircraft developed during WW II by the United States. One of the most significant and often overlooked aircraft of this period is the P-61 Black Widow. During its lifetime its development was heavily classified and its missions taking place in the dark of night, long after all the daytime pilots were all tucked into bed, dreaming of their next missions. Woe to the enemy bomber who crossed paths with a P-61 and a skilled crew out hunting in the dead of night. The result of most of these encounters resulted in a telegram being delivered to the enemy crew's next of kin. This book takes a good look at the P-61 from design and development until the last flight of the last serviceable air frame and beyond. Published by Specialty Press, this hardcover book contains 198 glossy pages of information in text and pictures. Many of the pictures have been held in private collections, and have never been published before. Most of the pictures are in Black and white, with chapter one wholly dedicated to color profiles and color pictures. The profiles are expertly drawn, and have many aircraft represented, including the F-15 Reporter, and Operation Thunderstorm versions. The ten chapters and two appendixes are laid out in a logical progression that begins with the development of this aircraft. All P-61 and F-15 variants are covered, including the later, little known F and G versions. A complete look at the internal workings is also made and includes armament, engines, cockpit lay outs, and ancillary systems. Many diagrams from official publications are shown to illustrate where these systems were located within the aircraft. The Black Widow was flown in every theater of operations during WW II. Separate chapters outline the action seen against Germany, Japan, and the China-Burma-India areas. Navy and Marine Corps programs are discussed, as well as a separate chapter devoted to Project Thunderstorm and NACA aircraft. Chapter 10 winds up the main text portion of the text detailing the four surviving Black Widows. It's interesting to note one of these aircraft is located in China, and for a large sum of money, could be brought back to the US. The final aircraft discussed in this section is the one salvaged off a mountain top in the South Pacific by the Mid Atlantic Air Museum in Redding PA. I feel I have a tiny stake in this airframe, as I donated a princely small sum of money to its recovery a number of years ago!! This aircraft is in the process of being completely restored to flying status, which will make it the only flyable P-61 in existence. Appendix one is a very well laid out chronology of the P-61 beginning with the original RFP, and continues through the crash of the final flyable aircraft in September 1968. Appendix two contains individual aircraft histories for all P-61 airframes manufactured. This section is very useful when determining which aircraft carried which name, the pilot and crew that operated it, and which airframes were converted into later versions. The P-61 Black Widow is one of my favorite WW II aircraft, and I have a few books pertaining to it in my library. I consider this to be the definitive work on the Black Widow for a number of reasons. The author, Mr. Kolln has put an extraordinary amount of work into this project. The information presented tells almost the entire story of this high tech hunter; the final chapter has yet to be written, thanks to the ongoing efforts at MAAM!! The book delves into many areas of this airplane that isn't available in other sources. The photography captures the essence and nuances that make the Black Widow the finest night fighter developed during the war. Much of the nose art, much of it quite bawdy for its day, is clearly shown. The book is well written in the accounts of night operations, and the forward was written by Alvin "Bud" Anderson, A pilot with the 425th Night Fighter Squadron 9th Air Force, former Vice President of the WW II night Fighters Association, who has since passed away. It's easy to say I like this book a great deal. I highly recommend this book to modelers wanting to build a version of this amazing aircraft, WW II aviation enthusiasts, or anyone wanting to know more about a successful aircraft program. My thanks are given to Specialty Press (www.specialtypress.com) and IPMS for supplying this review sample.