Night fighter

A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night, or in other times of bad visibility. They are sometimes referred to as night/all weather fighters for this reason.

World war II

UK

Pre Radar night fighters

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• Boulton Paul Defiant

The British pioneered the uses of Airborne Interception by radar, fitting it to converted light and medium bomber designs and heavy fighters. The fighter could now locate and track their targets. The technique was enhanced by using flight controllers with ground radar to guide the fighters towards the enemy aircraft.

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One RAF pilot, Cats Eyes Cunningham took 18 night fighter kills during the war. The mention of the use of radar was quietly avoided and his good fortune was put down to eating carrots.

Related Topics:
Cats Eyes Cunningham - Eating carrots

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AI Radar Night fighters (date of entry into service)

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• Bristol Blenheim
• Bristol Beaufighter (1940)
• Mosquito (1942)