Top 10 night fighter planes – WWI & WWII and post-war era

Top 10 night fighter planes:

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• World War I:

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• Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c

  – Night flights were already taking place during World War I. It was not machines specially designed for these purposes. But fighters usually reworked. Such an example was a single-engine, two-seat, biplane – Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c.

• Sopwith Camel “Comic” Nightfighter

  – “Comic” Nightfighter – A modified version of the British military aircraft Sopwith Camel also participated in World War I. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company. Equipped with an improved Neame sight.

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• World War II:

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• Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4

  – Was a heavy twin-engine fighter aircraft. One of the best machines for conducting night raids. Because the machine was poorly manoeuvrable, the Germans decided to use it as a bombing and intercepting fighter.

• Heinkel He 219 UHU

  – In the summer of 1943, the German Luftwaffe I/NJG 1 with a base in Venlo, the Netherlands, received a prototype of the Heinkel He 219 UHU night fighter. During tests it proved to be reliable and quickly gained recognition in battle. Throwing down 15 enemy bombers.

• Focke-Wulf Ta 154

  – Nazi Germany, for the third time. This time with a machine inspired by a hostile multi-purpose aircraft: de Havilland Mosquito. The original had a fairly old wooden structure. But it troubled the Germans so much that they decided to build something similar.

• Northrop P-61 Black Widow

  – The “Black Widow” aircraft from the manufacturer Northrop Corporation was the only fighter of World War II. From the beginning, designed exclusively for night flying.

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• Post-war era:

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• Northrop F-89 Scorpion

  – Trying to replace the “Black Widow” Northrop P-61. A slightly better night fighter, American designers developed the F-89. It was a self-supporting medium wing.

• Gloster Javelin

  – First fighter manufactured by Gloster Aircraft Company was Meteor – with a jet propulsion. The first night machine, from this factory was Gloster Javelin.

• Sud Aviation Vautour II

  – The first test flight of the French machine, took place on 16th October 1952. But it was not included in active service until 1958. The prototype was improved and finally created in three versions: IIA, IIB, IIN.

• Jakovlev Jak-25

  – The first in the USSR created to operate on the areas of Siberia and the Far East. A twin-engine long-range fighter, adapted to all weather conditions. And for day and night flights.

During the war, the time of day does not matter. The fight lasts around the clock, regardless of weather conditions or time. That’s why the designers created night fighters. Which could have carried out the attack when most people calmly rest.