About the Smithsonian Series:

An exciting arrangement of colorful die cast models, these historic replicas are the inaugural releases in the Smithsonian Series from Air Force 1. This brand new collection pays tribute to America’s most legendary warbirds. The first five collectibles featured here are no exception, and salute military and technological achievements from the Doolittle Raid of World War II through the introduction of the advanced, tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey. Each newly tooled model in this diverse array – which includes 1/144, 1/200, and 1/300 scale replicas – feature an impressive attention to detail, such as accurately textured surfaces, authentic historic markings and artwork, rotating propellers (where applicable), and a display stand.

Historical:

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow, named for the American spider, was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed to use radar. The P-61 had a crew of three: pilot, gunner, and radar operator. It was armed with four 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano M2 forward-firing cannons mounted in the lower fuselage, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns mounted in a remote-controlled dorsal gun turret.

It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II. The first test flight was made on 26 May 1942, with the first production aircraft rolling off the assembly line in October 1943. The last aircraft was retired from government service in 1954.

Info: P-61B Black Widow USAAF 548th NFS, #42-39408 "Lady in the Dark" Le Shima Island, August 14th 1945