The XP-61E was an attempt to convert the Black Widow into a Long-Range Escort for the B-29. Apparently, all those Bf-110s the RAF drove out of the English sky had failed to make an impression. Go figure. In any event, the 2 XP-61E a/c were converted P-61B10 models (s/n 42-39549 & 42-39557). The fuselage nacelle was rebuilt w/out the upper Radar station or the top gun barbette, the radar was removed from the nose and replaced w/4 .50 HMGs. The crew2 was reduced to 2, seated in tandem under a single sliding canopy. Some sources claim this was the "largest blown plexiglas structure" of its day, but that I cannot confirm. Additional fuel tanks were added to give the necessary range. There seems to have been a XP-61F proposal, being a similar conversion of the P-61C, but the changing war situation eliminated the need for such a/c. 07/31/2004 @ 20:09 [ref: 7950]