Note: All Prints are Signed by the artist but do not have the text graphics that are shown on the sample images.
The
P-61 Black Widow was built by Northrop to become the most powerful
night fighter of World War II. Though the size of a medium bomber, the
Black Widow's power and manueverability were unmatched for night
fighters and could compete well with the best day fighters as
well. The P-61 was too late for glory - by the time it was
deployed to Europe and the Pacific enemy aircraft were few and far
between.
This
is "Midnite Madness", a P-61A of the 548th Night Figther Squadron based
on the island of Iwo Jima in April, 1945. Flown on a routine CAP
mission by Capt. James W. Bradford, R/O Lt. Larry Lunt,
and
Gunner Sgt. Reno Lukow, 'Midnite Madness" used its powerful nose radar
to lock in on a Japanese intruder - a Betty bomber attempting to
penetrate the allied defenses at Ie Shima. Backlit by brilliant
moonlight, there was no doubt of the identity of the intruder. There was
also no doubt about what the outcome of the encounter would be.
