P-61 Black Widow

The complete history of the P-61 "Black Widow," one of the most advanced and most sinister-looking fighter aircraft of the Second World War.

The striking P-61 Black Widow was the first purpose-built American night fighter. Designed by Jack Northrop and Vladimir Pavlecka, the P-61''s menacing appearance was matched by the plane''s advanced technology and fearsome weaponry. Interestingly, the Widow is credited with the final aerial kill of the war.

• Black-and-white photos and vintage color photos
• Four-color profiles
• Detailed line drawings.

Part of the Legends of Warfare: Aviation series, this book—by prolific author David Doyle—tells the story of the Black Widow from the experimental XP-61 on through the final production variant, the F-15A.