FlyPast 01.2018

WORLD WAR 2 P-61 BLACK WIDOW

“By this time our P-61 was too low

and was taking light, friendly, ground

fire. I pulled out and returned to base,

and on inspection there were several

holes in our aircraft. This encounter

was one of only a few where Black

Widows came face-to-face with

German aircraft during the day.”

ONE-EIGHT-EIGHTS

A German night intruder flying in

significant numbers at the time was

the Ju 188 – the 422nd shooting

down six of them, all during the

Battle of the Bulge.

Pilot 1st Lt Paul Smith and R/O

1st Lt Robert Tierney were flying a

routine patrol over the area between

the Meuse and St Vith-Monschau

on the night of December 26 in

their usual P-61A Lady Gen. Smith

remembered the mission: “Forty

minutes into the patrol, GCI picked

up an intruder at 7,000ft. We closed

rapidly and overshot our quarry.

The bogie was identified as a Ju 188,

but the element of surprise was no

longer available.

“The enemy pilot took violent

evasive action, with directional

flight changing every few seconds.

It peeled off, dove, weaved and

changed altitude numerous times.

I was closing and able to stay close,

and it was just a matter of time.

“I finally got as close as 500ft;

then the target made a hard port

turn. I took the chance with a 60°

deflection shot which hit the canopy

area and exploded in the Ju 188’s

cockpit. The aircraft shuddered and

straightened. Taking a 30° deflection

shot this time, the rounds impacted

all over the starboard wing root,

causing a fire.

“The ’188 went into a gentle climb

for a few seconds than fell off on the

damaged wing. The altitude of the

fight had deteriorated, so the enemy

went right in and exploded. In our

mission report we added that the Ju

188 was fitted with bomb racks that

were empty.”

Lady Gen’s mission was not over

yet: GCI sent them up to 17,000ft,

and when they were close enough

for a positive identification the

‘quarry’ turned out to be a B-17.

Immediately afterwards they

went back into normal patrol. GCI

handed them another intruder:

this time he was at 9,000ft, which

was much more suspicious. They

came in too fast and overshot,

but recovered and got a positive

identification – another Ju 188, also

fitted with bomb racks.

Turning back around, Smith closed

to 500ft. He tried a slight deflection

shot that went wide. The enemy

pilot immediately peeled off to

starboard and made ‘split-Ss’ to port.

Right

A P-61 based in France

with traces of ‘Invasion

Stripes’ on the tail boom.

GARRY PAPE

Right centre

Armourers prepare to

load the 20mm cannon

rounds. WARREN BODIE

Below right

Three P-61s of the 422nd:

‘Jukin’ Judy’ in the lead,

‘Lovely Lady’ in the far

distance and ‘Husslin’

Hussey’ on the left. GARRY

PAPE

No Love! No Nothing! This mission

happened at the end of October 1944

and it proved to be the last kills we

would make before the Battle of the

Bulge started.

“We were to fly a twilight patrol

over enemy lines near Aachen. At

precisely 18:05, GCI checked in and

informed us of several enemy aircraft

approaching from the east at 4,000ft.

I dropped down from 10,000ft to

investigate, but saw no aircraft and

immediately returned to our original

altitude.

“Minutes later GCI notified us again

that they were picking up multiple

bogies at 5,000ft. I dropped down

again and this time my eyes locked

onto a very unusual sight: three Fw

190s loaded with bombs! They had

a heading of 270°, flying a straight

and level course with an airspeed

of 250mph. This was an unusual

encounter with German aircraft

during daytime.

“I peeled off and headed right into

them, and seconds later two of the

Fw 190s broke off and scattered.

The P-61’s focus was on the leader.

The closure slowed at 1,000ft. Dead

astern, I opened fire with two brief

bursts of 20mm. These strikes were

observed on the leader’s right wing

as it drifted into a slow turn to the

left.

“Our range had closed down to

500ft. I increased pressure on the

firing button, letting go with a long

five-second burst. This time it was

point blank as hits were observed all

over the Fw 190’s fuselage and engine.

These proved to be fatal.

“Black smoke billowed out of the

engine and the aircraft fell off into a

vertical dive. At 2,000ft the pilot tried

to pull out before hitting the ground.

His efforts were useless as the ’190

went straight in, a massive explosion

following the impact.