Night fighters
Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:24 am
Hi there,
In your opinion, what was the best Night Fighter of ww2?
First place for me is the The P-61 Black Widow. It is interesting in that, from the outset, it was designed to be a night-fighter. It was manueverable, fast, heavily armed, and has long range.
Second place, would be the german Heinkel He 219 "UHU", which was also a very high performance aircraft. It gave the night-figher versions of the mosquito a serious run for its money.
What about you guys, what's your favorite?
cheers!
In your opinion, what was the best Night Fighter of ww2?
First place for me is the The P-61 Black Widow. It is interesting in that, from the outset, it was designed to be a night-fighter. It was manueverable, fast, heavily armed, and has long range.
Second place, would be the german Heinkel He 219 "UHU", which was also a very high performance aircraft. It gave the night-figher versions of the mosquito a serious run for its money.
What about you guys, what's your favorite?
cheers!
Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:43 am
He 219 and the Mossie, most successful would have to be the venerable Me110G as far as kill numbers go.
Dave
Dave
Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:03 am
The Ju-88 was also used as a night fighter, correct?
So was the P-70 (Douglas A-20/Boston) IIRC.
Saludos,
Tulio
So was the P-70 (Douglas A-20/Boston) IIRC.
Saludos,
Tulio
Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:45 am
Absolutely correct, Tulio
the Bristol Beaufighter also saw use as nightfighter.
Martin
the Bristol Beaufighter also saw use as nightfighter.
Martin
Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:47 am
A-26 conceived as a night fighter as well..
Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:03 am
Don't forget the F4U-5N Corsair used in the Korean War, guys.
Cheers,
Amado
Cheers,
Amado
Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:54 am
I recall seeing a picture of a Do-335, equipped with a Liechtenstein radar or similar, with a second cockpit; was it used as a night fighter, or as a day fighter, radar equipped?
Len Deighton has a book, titled Night Fighter.
Saludos,
Tulio
Len Deighton has a book, titled Night Fighter.
Saludos,
Tulio
Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:13 am
I'd love to see a quality museum put together a dedicated 'Night Fighter" display room with a bona fide example of each surviving type (P-38M, F4U-5N, P-61, Ju-88, etc). It would probably take someone like Paul Allen or the USAF Museum to bring all of these survivors together in one location (especially all of the German types), but man what a sight to behold. 
With all the black airplanes though, it would have to be one hell of a well lit room, which rules out the USAF Museum. 
I still feel anxiety over the fact that the only surviving P-38M has been somewhat dismembered and completely overlooked as the treasure it is. An all black P-38 complete with radome, red stenciling, machinegun flash hiders, and the second seat with NV gear would be WAY more enthralling to witness on the flight line than one in standard fighter configuration IMO.
With all the black airplanes though, it would have to be one hell of a well lit room, which rules out the USAF Museum.
I still feel anxiety over the fact that the only surviving P-38M has been somewhat dismembered and completely overlooked as the treasure it is. An all black P-38 complete with radome, red stenciling, machinegun flash hiders, and the second seat with NV gear would be WAY more enthralling to witness on the flight line than one in standard fighter configuration IMO.
Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:37 am
Nobody's going to mention a P-82? That was a radical design, and purposely built airplane. One of my A&P school instructors flew them in Korea, and he had nothing but praise for them.
Night Hellcat!
Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:39 am
What about that great Grumman F-6F-5N ???? Pretty fair craft !!!
Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:35 pm
Well if we are just listing night fighters..what about the 'Irving', Do-217, Me262B.
Tulio, yes the Do-335 was to be used as a NF, but that subtype wasn't operational.
Rob...I think the NASM could pull off the line up..they already have the He219 and Irving on display.
Dave
Tulio, yes the Do-335 was to be used as a NF, but that subtype wasn't operational.
Rob...I think the NASM could pull off the line up..they already have the He219 and Irving on display.
Dave
Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:49 am
skymstr02:
Reading the post above yours, I thought: what about the Twin-Mustang . . . and wham! You mentioned it! : )
Not a night-fighter per-se, but Guatemalan Air Force pilots used to fly night acrobatics, in formation, over Guatemala City back in the early 1980s, on Pilatus PC-7s, under the training of a Swiss Pilot from Pilatus, named Max Vigeth (sp?).
Saludos,
Tulio
Reading the post above yours, I thought: what about the Twin-Mustang . . . and wham! You mentioned it! : )
Not a night-fighter per-se, but Guatemalan Air Force pilots used to fly night acrobatics, in formation, over Guatemala City back in the early 1980s, on Pilatus PC-7s, under the training of a Swiss Pilot from Pilatus, named Max Vigeth (sp?).
Saludos,
Tulio
Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:15 am
As much as I love books with photos, I also love threads with illustrations....
so here's my favourite:
Martin
so here's my favourite:
Martin
Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:21 am
no comment 
Martin
Martin
Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:23 am
nice pic of the twin-mustang... Im wondering, did that ever see action? Did it become operational in the war?