Special Sub-Topic: Night Fighters of World War II Click Here To Play: Night Fighters of World War II

Which Luftwaffe fighter made up more than half of Germany's night fighter strength from 1943-1945?

Me 110G. After a false start as a day fighter early in the war, the venerable Me 110 continued to give the Luftwaffe valuable service until the war's end. It was a versatile aircraft serving as a close-support aircraft, fighter bomber, trainer, and most importantly, as a radar-equipped night fighter.

Which British night fighter made its combat debut as an intruder over Malta in the spring of 1942?

Mosquito NF MKII. Few aircraft in history can match the versatility of de Haviland's "Wooden Wonder". Like its German counterparts, the Me 110 and Ju 88, it served in a variaty of combat roles. The NF MKII was the first operational Mosquito night fighter, and early versions carried no radar. Despite this, they had a high rate of success against Luftwaffe bombers and occasionally night fighters over Malta during the savage fighting for the island throughout 1942 and early 1943.

What was considered to be Germany's best night fighter?

He 219. Appearing late in the war, and only in small numbers, the He 219 was a truly revolutionarly design. It was equipped with the powerful SN2 radar, and boasted such refinements as an ejection seat and a tricycle undercarrige. Despite it's novel appearance, the He 219 was a formidable aircraft. With a top speed of 418mph, rugged construction, heavy firepower, and excellent agility, it proved to be the Luftwaffe's answer to both the RAF heavy night bombers, and the previously superior Mosquito night fighters. However, as with many other German weapons, it was too little, too late.

What was the designation of the night fighter version of the P-38 Lightning?

P-38M. A unique adaptation of the versatile American fighter, the P-38M was equipped with radar and a second seat for its operator. Appearing later in the war, it saw limited service in the Pacific Theatre.

What was the first, purpose-designed, American night fighter?

P-61 Black Widow. The Northrop P-61 was a unique and revolutionary fighter. It's specialized onboard radar and navigation systems and remote controlled machine gun turret were all features unique to the P-61. Despite its great size (roughly equal to a B-25), it had remarkable agility and was faster than many single engine fighters of the time. The P-61 was operated with considerable success in both Europe and the Pacific in the latter stages of the war.

Which RAF fighter, equipped with radar, helped defeat the German "blitz" bombing of Britain?

Beaufighter MKIF. The fast and well armed Bristol Beaufighter was Britain's first successful night figher, and equipped with AI MKIV radar, it helped saved the island nation in it's hour of need. In 1943, Beaufighters equipped with special "Serrate" radar devices escorted the RAF's first major night raids on Germany.

Which RAF day figher was experimentally fitted with AI radar in the spring of 1943?

Hawker Typhoon. The idea of fitting existing airborne interception radar to fast single engine fighters was tried, without much success, on a Hawker Typhoon in England. Apparently, the fighter itself never left the U.K., though there have been post-war rumors to the contrary (i.e. that Typhoons thus configured with AI were operationally used in the Pacific).

The Me 262 was successfully adapted as night fighter?

t. Several Me 262 jet fighters were taken in hand for conversion into night fighers early in 1945. This involved the fitting of SN2 radar, auxilary fuel tanks, and a second seat for the radar operated. Though used operationally only briefly,their performance was excellent, and Luftwaffe record's claim that at least 10 RAF Mosquitos and several heavy bombers were destroyed by them during the spring of 1945.

Which RAF fighter, after a failed daylight career, was successfully employed as a night figher/night intruder in 1940/41?

Boulton Paul Defiant. The oddball Defiant, with its four gun dorsal turret, was much larger and heavier than contemporary single seat fighters, and suffered severe losses in combat with Me 109's in the Battle of Britain. It was later used, with considerable success, as a radar-equipped night fighter. Its sturdy landing gear and large fuel capacity made it ideal for intruder missions over continental Europe.

Which RAF night figher scored the first British intruder victory of the war?

Blenhiem MKIF. In the early hours of June 18, 1940, a Blenhiem intruder, flown by Pilot Officer Alastair Hunter, shot down a He 115 floatplane near Calais, France, giving the RAF intruders their first victory. Later, when anxious members of his wing asked him how he found the German aircraft, Hunter told them the curtious pilot had been flying with his navigation lights on!