P-70 Havoc NF
Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:06 pm
P-70A 6th NFS 13th AF Oua Tom, New Caledonia 1943
Last edited by Jack Cook on Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:13 pm
Jack,
Would you please explain the P70A designation.
Thanks,
john
Would you please explain the P70A designation.
Thanks,
john
Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:14 pm
duplicate post
Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:16 pm
Very nice! So little is known about this very first US night fighter used operationally in WW2. Or is it first?
??
Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:19 pm
Would you please explain the P70A designation.
Since you're giving me the option I'll say no
???
Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:23 pm
Well...........OK
In October 1940, the USAAC felt a need for long-range fighters more than attack bombers, so some of the production run of A-20s were converted to P-70 and P-70A night-fighters. They were equipped with SCR-540 radar (a copy of British AI Mk IV), the glazed nose often painted black to reduce glare and hide the details of the radar set, and had four 20 mm (.79 in) forward-firing cannon in a ventral bomb bay tray.
In October 1940, the USAAC felt a need for long-range fighters more than attack bombers, so some of the production run of A-20s were converted to P-70 and P-70A night-fighters. They were equipped with SCR-540 radar (a copy of British AI Mk IV), the glazed nose often painted black to reduce glare and hide the details of the radar set, and had four 20 mm (.79 in) forward-firing cannon in a ventral bomb bay tray.
Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:38 pm
Can't tell if anything is firing from the bomb bay but there appears 4 muzzles coming out of the nose where I thought the radar dish should be.
I would assume the radar setup here only used the antennas on either side of the nose.
I remember that the P-70 was rushed into production due to delays in getting the Black Widow into production.
Rich
I would assume the radar setup here only used the antennas on either side of the nose.
I remember that the P-70 was rushed into production due to delays in getting the Black Widow into production.
Rich
???
Fri Sep 18, 2009 4:05 pm
I don't know jack sh*t But I think it may have been differences in models. This maybe a B model. There is a antenna in the nose also.
But I think it may have been differences in models. This maybe a B model. There is a antenna in the nose also.
Fri Sep 18, 2009 4:22 pm
I think? it's an A-2. They had the gun nose but I don't know where the radar array went.
Scott
Scott
Fri Sep 18, 2009 4:47 pm
The portion of serial number that can be seen, as well as the SCR-540 system antenna, would seem to confirm it's a P-70A-2.
Feelin' all warm & fuzzy...
Feelin' all warm & fuzzy...
Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:22 pm
51fixer wrote:Can't tell if anything is firing from the bomb bay but there appears 4 muzzles coming out of the nose where I thought the radar dish should be.
I would assume the radar setup here only used the antennas on either side of the nose.
No dish needed. This link should explain it.
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/radar-8.htm
Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:46 pm
Quite a few P-70s ended up at Chino after the war - Wiliam T. Larkins took photos of several.
Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:02 pm
According to the book "Pacific Aircraft Wrecks.." by Charles Darby there are several P-70 wrecks remaining in New Guinea: Aiome, Amaimom, Agaiambo, Dibor River and Finschhafen. BTW, isn't Agaiambo the site of B-17E 'Swamp Ghost" ??
How many P-70's were produced ? The actual quantity seems to be a bit illusive but it appears it was in the neighborhood of "about 100".
How many P-70's were produced ? The actual quantity seems to be a bit illusive but it appears it was in the neighborhood of "about 100".
??
Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:06 pm
Dang that cool! Never really seen one with 6 .50s in the nose.
Wouldn't the guns screw with the radar reception???
So I wonder if it carries 4 500 LBers in the bombbay??
Wouldn't the guns screw with the radar reception???
So I wonder if it carries 4 500 LBers in the bombbay??
Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:59 pm
Is that a Fairchild 24 in the backround?