P-61A Black Widow 42-5570 of the 425th Night Fighter Squadron

The 425th Night Fighter Squadron (425th NFS) was one of only two night-fighter squadrons assigned to the 9th Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. Following a similar trajectory to the 422nd NFS, the 425th played a crucial role in night-time aerial defense and offensive operations across Europe.

Operational History

Formation and Training in England (May – July 1944)

Late May 1944: The 425th NFS arrived in England at Charmy Down on 26 May 1944, shortly after the 422nd NFS had departed. Charmy Down, near Bath, served as the squadron’s initial base of operations in England.
June 1944: After less than three weeks at Charmy Down, the squadron relocated to Scorton in Yorkshire on 12 June 1944. Here, the 425th joined the 422nd NFS in an intensive training program to familiarize themselves with the P-61 Black Widow, their primary aircraft.
28 June 1944: The squadron took part in a four-week detachment to Hurn, near Bournemouth, alongside the 422nd NFS, where they conducted comparative trials with the RAF’s Mosquito night fighters. Afterward, the 425th participated in anti-V-1 flying bomb missions, contributing to the defense of southern England.

Combat Operations in France (August – September 1944)

August 1944: The squadron moved to Vannes in Brittany, France, on 18 August 1944, following the Allied advance after the D-Day landings. The 425th began conducting night intruder missions, targeting German movements and installations at night.
September 1944: The squadron continued its operations in France, relocating to several bases including Coulommiers on 11 September 1944 and Prosnes in the Champagne-Ardenne region on 13 October 1944.

Transition to Offensive Operations (October 1944 – Early 1945)

October 1944: In line with the 422nd NFS, the 425th was reassigned from the IX Air Defense Command (ADC) to the XIX Tactical Air Command (TAC) in October 1944. This reassignment reflected the shift from a defensive posture to a more offensive role, where the squadron’s P-61s were armed with HVAR rockets in addition to their standard armament.
Late 1944 – Early 1945: A shortage of P-61s led to the temporary use of RAF Mosquito NF.XIII night fighters, which were loaned to the USAAF. Additionally, the squadron operated A-20 Havocs for flare-dropping and night attack missions. Despite the mixed fleet, the 425th continued its effective operations across the front lines.

Final Operations and Post-War Activities (April 1945 – May 1945)

April 1945: The squadron moved to Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany on 12 April 1945, and later to Furth-Industriehafen in Bavaria on 2 May 1945, where they continued their operations until the end of the war in Europe.
End of the War: The 425th NFS followed the Allied advance into Germany, performing night intruder missions and contributing to the final push against the remaining German forces.

Unit Decorations

The 425th NFS, like the 422nd, played a significant role in the night-time air war over Europe. However, specific unit decorations for the 425th are not detailed in the available information, though their contribution was crucial in the broader context of Allied night operations.

Aircraft and Markings

Aircraft: The 425th NFS primarily operated the P-61 Black Widow, but also utilized the Mosquito NF.XIII and A-20 Havoc during periods of aircraft shortages in early 1945.
Markings:
- The unique configuration of the P-61’s airframe required a smaller national insignia on the fuselage, following a directive issued on 29 May 1944 to ensure the insignia did not exceed 75% of the fuselage height at the application point.
- In September 1943, the AAF ordered the reduction of the P-61’s radio call numbers (serial numbers) on the tail, using Insignia Red No.45 for these markings.
- Both the 422nd and 425th NFS were granted the option by General Spaatz to replace the white color within the U.S. national insignia with gray, though this was optional.
- Despite being exempted from the SHAEF directive requiring D-Day invasion stripes, both squadrons chose to apply these stripes to their aircraft, maintaining their visibility during daytime operations when necessary.

Commanding Officers

Maj. Leon G. Lewis commanded the 425th NFS during its European operations, leading the squadron through its various transitions and missions across multiple countries.

Bases

Charmy Down, Somerset: Initial base in England.
Scorton, Yorkshire: Joined the 422nd NFS for training.
Vannes, France: First base in continental Europe.
Coulommiers, Ile-de-France: Base during operations in France.
Prosnes, Champagne-Ardenne: Continued operations in France.
Rouvres/Etain, Lorraine: Strategic base during the advance.
Frankfurt-am-Main, Hessen: Base in Germany during the final months of the war.
Furth-Industriehafen, Bavaria: Final base before the end of the war.