~~ The Northrop P-61, was shrouded in secrecy from its inception. Known as the "BLACK WIDOW", it was the first U.S. aircraft designed exclusively as a night fighter. The P-61 was the heaviest aircraft to ever bear the designation "P" for pursuit, with its initial weight of over 27,400 ounds. Specifications of the WIDOW were those of a medium bomber, with a wing span of 66ft and and overall length of 48ft 11 in. Two Pratt and Whitney R-2800 engines powered the the P-61A developing initially 1600 horsepower each. The P-61B had two R-2800-65 engines with an increased horsepower of 2200 each. Top speed of this aircraft was over 370 miles per hour.

~~ The P-61 was the most advanced night fighter of its day, possessing incredible capabilities of destruction. Four .50 caliber machine guns were mounted in a dorsal turret and four 20 millimeter cannons in the ventral position on the fuselage pod. The four .50 caliber machine guns were designed initially as defensive weapons and could be controlled by aby one of the three crew members, pilot, rear gunner, or radar operator who sat in the extreme rear of the fuselage pod. The dorsal gun turret could be rotated 360 degrees and elevated to a 90 degree angle.

~~ The first thirty-six P-61A's carried the dorsal turret. The remainder of the A production of 200 had the dorsal turret deleted due to a buffeting problem created when the turret was rotated.

~~ The P-61B was approximately 8 inches longer than the "A" model, its overall length being 49ft 7in. Of the four hundred-fifty "Bs" produced, only the second two hundred had the dorsal turret which was re-introduced. The buffeting problem had been lessened by redisgn of the structure. The P-61B also incorporated many improvements requested by pilots who had used the P-61A in combat.

~~ The P-61B was painted an overall gloss black as were many of the P-61A's, although initially the P-61A was painted in the conventional olive drab over neutral gray. The P-61B, when painted a glossy black, was almost invisible in the night skies.

~~ The premier ace of WWII night fighter fame was Major Carroll C. Smith of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron stationed in the Pacific. On December 29th, 1944. Major Smith and his radar operator, Lt. Phillip Porter, accomplished a feat unheard of in night fighter history as they intercepted and destroyed four Japanese aircraft in a single night with their P-61, "Times A Wasting". With these four Japanese aircraft, destroyed off the coast of Mindoro in the Phillipines, Major Smith became the highest scoring U.S. Night Fighter Ace with a total of seven kills.