During the late 1930s, the United States lagged behind its European counterparts in military aviation, particularly in night defense capabilities against enemy bomber aircraft. It was only when the Battle of Britain occurred that America realized the urgency of having specialized nighttime fighter aircraft. With assistance from the Royal Air Force (RAF), the U.S. began prioritizing the development of such a force. This book delves into the various aircraft used by the U.S. in this role, starting with early "stop-gap" conversions like the TBM Avenger, Lockheed Ventura, and A-20 Havoc (P-70).
The book then explores the combat history of newer aircraft equipped with radar, such as the Hellcats, Corsairs, and Black Widows, which were designed to seek out and engage enemy aircraft, including German and Japanese adversaries, in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific. These radar-equipped aircraft were responsible for most of the kills achieved by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1944-45. Additionally, the book includes accounts from American pilots who served on exchange tours with the RAF in the European and Mediterranean theaters, where they learned to fly radar-equipped fighters like the Mosquito and Beaufighter at night. This experience preceded the introduction of the long-awaited P-61 into the USAAF. With colorful profiles and rare photographs, the book sheds light on the often underestimated American Nightfighters.
