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P-61 Black Widow twin engined world
war two aircraft of the US Air Force in aviation art print of the P-61
Black Widow by aviation artist Nicholas Trudgian, and Stan Stokes available from the
aviation art print company.
The
Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the USAAFs first modern fighter aircraft
which was specifically designed from the start to serve in the night
fighter capacity. Designed by Jack Knudson Northrop, this aircraft was
quite innovative. The Armys initial requirements for this night
interceptor made no mention of radar, but stated that the aircraft would
carry a device which would locate enemy aircraft in the dark. The
P-61 indeed utilized radar, and about seven hundred of these large
twin-engine aircraft were built. The recommendation to pursue
development of an aircraft of this type came about from the
recommendations of a special commission which visited Great Britain
during the Battle of Britain. The commission identified the need for an
effective night fighter capability to deter enemy night bombing raids.
Although the first prototype flew in May of 1942, the Black Widow did not
enter front-line service until 1944. The P-61 was the largest and most
powerful fighter aircraft of WW II. The Black Widows bite was mean
because of its four cannons and four machine guns. With a wingspan of
sixty-six feet and a length of nearly fifty feet, this large aircraft
was powered by twin 18-cylinder Double Wasp radial engines, capable of
2,000-HP each. The B model of the P-61 was capable of speeds in the
365-MPH range, and had an incredible range of 3,000 miles. This great
range gave the P-61 added benefits in the Pacific theater of operations.
The P-61 utilized 4-bladed, variable pitch props, and incorporated a
tricycle landing gear configuration. With its distinctive double tail
configuration, the Black Widow had a roughly similar appearance to the
P-38 Lightning, which was sometimes utilized in the night fighter role
prior to the P-61 becoming available. The XP-61 prototype took to the
air in May of 1942, and the aircraft exhibited a maximum speed of 380
MPH. Despite good results from the initial flights, the P-61 took a long
time to enter production. In July of 1943 the Army organized the 481st
Night Fighter Operational Training Group at Orlando Field in Florida.
This unit completed service tests on pre-production Black Widows, and
was responsible for training flight crews. In his spectacular moon-lit
painting entitled Bite of the
Black Widow, aviation artist Stan Stokes depicts the P-61 flown by
Major Carroll C. Smith of the 418th Squadron of the Fifth Air Force.
Smith was one of two pilots in WW II to attain ace status in the Black
Widow. Smith obtained a total of seven night victories. His first two
were obtained while flying a night-fighter version of the P-38. Four of
Smiths victories in the P-61 came on two missions during one evening in
December 1944.
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| Bite of the Black Widow by Stan Stokes. The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the USAAFs first modern fighter aircraft which was specifically designed from the start to serve in the night fighter capacity. Designed by Jack Knudson Northrop, this aircraft was quite innovative. The Armys initial requirements for this night interceptor made no mention of radar, but stated that the aircraft would carry a device which would locate enemy aircraft in the dark. The P-61 indeed utilized radar, and about seven hundred of these large twin-engine aircraft were built. The recommendation to pursue development of an aircraft of this type came about from the recommendations of a special commission which visited Great Britain during the Battle of Britain. The commission identified the need for an effective night fighter capability to deter enemy night bombing raids. Although the first prototype flew in May of 1942, the Black Widow did not enter front-line service until 1944. The P-61 was the largest and most powerful fighter aircraft of WW II. The Black Widows bite was mean because of its four cannons and four machine guns. With a wingspan of sixty-six feet and a length of nearly fifty feet, this large aircraft was powered by twin 18-cylinder Double Wasp radial engines, capable of 2,000-HP each. The B model of the P-61 was capable of speeds in the 365-MPH range, and had an incredible range of 3,000 miles. This great range gave the P-61 added benefits in the Pacific theater of operations. The P-61 utilized 4-bladed, variable pitch props, and incorporated a tricycle landing gear configuration. With its distinctive double tail configuration, the Black Widow had a roughly similar appearance to the P-38 Lightning, which was sometimes utilized in the night fighter role prior to the P-61 becoming available. The XP-61 prototype took to the air in May of 1942, and the aircraft exhibited a maximum speed of 380 MPH. Despite good results from the initial flights, the P-61 took a long time to enter production. In July of 1943 the Army organized the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group at Orlando Field in Florida. This unit completed service tests on pre-production Black Widows, and was responsible for training flight crews. In his spectacular moon-lit painting entitled Bite of the Black Widow, aviation artist Stan Stokes depicts the P-61 flown by Major Carroll C. Smith of the 418th Squadron of the Fifth Air Force. Smith was one of two pilots in WW II to attain ace status in the Black Widow. Smith obtained a total of seven night victories. His first two were obtained while flying a night-fighter version of the P-38. Four of Smiths victories in the P-61 came on two missions during one evening in December 1944. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00  Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £80.00 Signed by USAF Col. Leonard Hall - instructor and pilot of the P-61 Black Widow. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 25 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE STK0032 |
| The Last to Fight by Craig Kodera. The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first U.S. aircraft designed specifically as a night fighter, and this P-61B was credited with the last two aerial kills of the World War II. Lady in the Dark was the most famous Black Widow of the 548th Night Fighter Squadron. Her nose art included a cat with a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other, which was the emblem of the 548th, and the lady herself who made quite a striking contrast against the fighters black paint. The P-61B flew its missions after dark, but it was often launched at sunset, a fact I used to my advantage. I wanted to show the aircraft at its best. The colors on the horizon, on the plane, and in the moon make the image majestic and mysterious. Signed limited edition of 1000 prints. Image size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £ ITEM CODE AX0061 |
| Twilight Conquest by Nicolas Trudgian. The Black Widow is a formidable creature. It lurks in the dark, carefully chooses its moment of attack and strikes unseen, cutting down its prey with deadly certainty. Northrop could not have chosen a more apt name with which to christen their new night fighter when the P61 Black Widow entered service in the spring of 1944. The first aircraft designed from the start as a night fighter, the P61 had the distinction of pioneering airborne radar interception during World War II, and this remarkable twin engined fighter saw service in the ETO, in China, the Marianas and the South West Pacific. Under the command of Lt Col O B Johnson, one of the P61s greatest exponents, the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron was the leading P61 outfit in the ETO, destroying 43 enemy aircraft in the air, 5 buzz bombs and hundreds of ground based vehicles, becoming the most successful night fighter squadron of the war. Flying a twilight mission in his P-61 Black Widow on October 24, 1944, Colonel Johnson and his radar operator have picked up a formation of three Fw190s, stealthily closing on their quarry in the gathering dusk, O.B. makes one quick and decisive strike, bringing down the enemy leader with two short bursts of fire. Banking hard, as the Fw190 pilot prepares to bale out, he brings his blazing guns to bear on a second Fw190, the tracer lighting up the fuselage of his P-61. Limited edition of 600 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £150.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Herman Ernst, Major Robert Graham, Major General Oris B Johnson and First Lieutenant Bob Tierney, in addition to the artist. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £210.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Herman Ernst, Major Robert Graham, Major General Oris B Johnson and First Lieutenant Bob Tierney, in addition to the artist. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 remarques. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £325.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Herman Ernst, Major Robert Graham, Major General Oris B Johnson and First Lieutenant Bob Tierney, in addition to the artist.
** (Ex Display) Limited edition of 600 prints. (Two copies reduced to clear) Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £110.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Herman Ernst, Major Robert Graham, Major General Oris B Johnson and First Lieutenant Bob Tierney, in addition to the artist. ITEM CODE DHM2036 |
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