From its beginnings during World War I, the role of the dedicated night fighter aircraft and its pilots in the 21st century has evolved greatly. This work reflects the massive changes in technology and in tactics. It also covers the problems of tracking aerial targets by radar.
The true story of a legendary aviation commander. This biography of an American hero explores the intricacies of nightfighting during World War II and the specialized training involved. After a three-month crash course, Marion Milton Magruder, USMC, went on to lead the top scoring nightfighter squadron in the Pacific Theatre. Drawing upon primary sources, the author accurately captures the combat stories of Black Mac Magruder and his fellow nightfighters in breathtaking detail.
It's 1942 and, as Bomber Command's casualties mount, the British Government turn to the secretive K Department and its new weapon. A clandestine squadron, composed of pilots with an unusual medical condition that allows them to see in the dark.A condition that inspired the myth of vampires.
"Night Fighters examines the historical, technological. tactical, and strategic evolution of limited-visibility aerial combat as the air forces of Great Britain and Germany dueled in the night skies during World War II. The book is based on extensive research and interviews with the key planners and policy makers responsible for their respective national strategies governing the conduct of the nighttime air war, as well as with the airmen who fought the war, which makes it far more detailed than previous works on this subject. The science developed by both nations greatly increased the momentum and lethality of air combat in that conflict. In addition, this arena of World War II combat also produced many technological innovations, the results of which are seen today in everyday military and civilian life."--BOOK JACKET.
As one of seventeen night fighter squadrons established during the course of World War II, the 421st Night Fighter Squadron carried the war into the night skies over the battlefields of the Southwest Pacific when most other fighter squadrons remained on the ground. In the squadron's years of service they would be based in a number of places ranging from New Guinea, Leyte, and finally ending up as an "Occupational" squadron in Japan after the war. The 421st NFS would be credited with thirteen kills, three damaged, one probable, and a number they simply never received credit for. On February 2, 1945 the 421st NFS would finally be deactivated and overnight become the 68th Fighter Squadron (All Weather). The history of the 421st however, would by no means end there. The 421st would again rise in later years as the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron and fight in the skies of Vietnam, and later be one of the first squadrons flying in Operation Desert Storm â true to its tradition the 421st would fly night missions over Iraq.
NachtjagdBoitenSubtitled: The Night Fighter Versus Bomber War Over the Third Reich 1939-45. Of the 7,953 Bomber Command aircraft lost on night operations during WWII, an estimated 5,833 fell victim to Luftwaffe night fighters. This volume traces the parallel developments in RAF night bombing and the Luftwaffes night fighting capability using archive material and interviews with surviving aircrew from both sides.Hdbd., 7 3/4x 1, 24 pgs., 17 bandw ill.
Once the day fighters had saved Britain from invasion, it fell to the night fighters to save her cities from destruction. At the beginning, interception by night proved virtually impossible, particularly, as the German bombers carried out their raids in cloudy weather. Soon, however, the navigator was presented with a mysterious little black box, which turned out to be the parent of airborne radar and the key to aerial tactics. This made a major contribution to the war in the skies, first protecting the British cities from the incessant raids of 1940 and later enabling the bombers to carry out their vital operations over Germany. 'Jimmy' Rawnsley, crewed with gunner 'Cats-eyes' Cunningham were among the first to use this new technology when it was introduced to the Blenheim they were flying and went on to become one of the RAF's leading night fighter crews, destroying over 20 enemy aircraft.
"The 280 men of the 548th Night Fighter Squadron fought their P-61 Black Widows across the Pacific. The Ground Echelon landed on Iwo on D+8, under the mortar, small-arms and kamikaze attack--the Widows arrived a little later. The entire Squadron lived in foxholes (between USMC howitzers and the enemy) for 6 weeks, on C-rations and one canteen of water per day. All while maintaining and flying the world's most complex aircraft. Not a single Japanese bomb fell on Iwo while the 548th stood night-time watch. On Ie Shima (Okinawa) they again arrived under kamikaze attack, shot down several enemy aircraft, made extensive night intruder bombing and rocket attacks, acted as escorts for hundreds of B-29 crew-rescues, and made critical nightly weather observations over tomorrow's targets for the day-bomber fleet. The Squadron had its share of odd moments, from losing a man on Iwo to its own friendly small-arms fire, to scoring the only American shoot-downs of a B29 and a P61." "This book is those men's story--all of them, not just the aircrews. It covers the entire history of the Squadron. The tale is told as much as possible in the first person, using Squadron veterans' memories, illustrations, and extensive records and memorabilia--augmented (where records exist) by official materials." -- Book Jacket.
ONE OF BRITAIN’S MOST DECORATED FIGHTER PILOTS TELLS HIS RIVETING TRUE STORY OF AERIAL COMBAT... Fast-paced, hard-hitting and personal, Wing Commander J. R. D. “Bob” Braham recounts his brilliant career as a World War II fighter pilot. Beginning with his pre-war training, he takes us battle-by-battle through that fateful afternoon in June, 1944, when he was shot down over occupied Denmark and taken prisoner. From the desperate night-time sorties against the Luftwaffe’s air strikes during the Battle of Britain to the daring daylight intruder raids against Hitler’s crumbling Reich, his story reveals the skill, courage and teamwork between pilot and navigator that made him one of the RAF’s most deadly fighter pilots. “HE’S 400 YARDS DEAD AHEAD!” Suddenly there he was as clear as could be—twin engines, twin tail, our opposite number, an Me110 night-fighter. He was turning gently to port. I climbed back to 16,000 feet, heading again towards Ameland. Before we had straightened out Jacko called urgently: “Hard starboard!” I hauled the Beau round in a tight turn when Jacko called, Look out, you’re closing too fast!” “I’ve got him,” I yelled. He was above me, in a tight turn, and at the speed we were travelling we looked as if we were going to ram him. I eased back the stick, put the sights on him and fired at the point-blank range of about fifty yards. There was a blinding flash as the Me exploded in my face.