Former night fighter pilot talks about the P-61 Black Widow

Frank Sartanowicz is one of the last two living WWII P-61 night fighter pilots, still proud of his service with an aircraft shrouded in secrecy for much of its history.

He addressed the Richard Reid Sr. Green Valley Chapter of the Air Force Association Friday at the Elks Lodge, giving members a glimpse of his memories of 65 combat missions in Europe.

The association has 142 members and meets each month. Hal Jewell is the current president.

It all started for Sartanowicz in 1942.

"I saw a recruiting film by Jimmy Stewart extolling the virtues of being a pilot in the Army Air Corps," he said to the group at the luncheon meeting.

"I had just turned 18 a few months earlier when Pearl Harbor was hit."

First encounter

He was recruited from B-25 training for the night fighter program, training on P-70s until he was moved to Fresno, Calif., assigned to the newly formed 425 NFS.

It was his first encounter with the brand new and highly classified P-61.

He flew patrols over the English Channel, chasing the German "buzz bomb."

Ground radar would pick one up and "vector" them onto the target.

"The first one I was lucky enough to shoot down," he recalled, thus given credit as the first American night fighter pilot to do so.

He also remembered the special landing fields set up by the RAF for bad weather descents.

Landing in hell

"They dug a trench about 1,000 feet long on either side of the runway, release oil and gasoline into the trenches and set them afire. The heat would raise the fog up about 200 feet. It was like landing in hell."

The P-61, Sartanowicz said, was designed by Northrop as a night fighter interceptor of enemy aircraft.

"I had two R-2800 Pratt and Whitney Radial engines, the same one put on the P-47.

"It had spoilers rather than ailerons, allowing for a better turning radius,"

Four 20 millimeter cannons were in the belly of the plane, and the top turret could be mounted with four 50 caliber machine guns.

Combat range

It was triple the weight of the P-51 and had a combat range of 1,000 miles, Sartanowicz said.

He flew missions with the 19th Tactical Air Command, providing night fighter cover for Gen. George Patton's Third Army, destroying hundreds of enemy vehicles, including a dozen or so sorties against enemy trains bringing in supplies.

"One was a Panzer Division moving from the Russian front in preparation for the Battle of the Bulge," Sartanowicz said he found out later.

"Our attack did so much damage that they never got there."

He remembers being introduced to Patton, hearing him say, "Hell son, good fighting men always deserve a good drink," in response to a shipment of French liqueurs he had shipped to Sartanowicz's group as a thanks for their cover support.

Celebration in Paris

He celebrated in Paris on V-E Day before returning home with the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters.

Sartanowicz, who's 81, still fights battles at home.

Born on Sept. 11, he organized volunteers last year and continues to challenge Elks Lodges to pitch in to serve turkey dinners for firefighters and paramedics to honor their service, as well as the 343 who died in the Twin Towers tragedy.

He was able to serve all fire stations in the area last year, and is trying to mount a nationwide campaign to help all Americans find a way to show their appreciation.

He also hopes businesses will donate to the cause. He said a complete dinner for 10 people costs a maximum of $35.

"It gives volunteers the opportunity to meet and eat with their local firefighters, and also get to learn about the inner workings of their local station, " he said, "and it's a great way for individuals and communities to show their appreciation for what the firefighters and paramedics do on a daily basis."

Those interested can contact Frank Sartanowicz at 625-5913 or the Elks Lodge at 625-2592.

mtouzeau@gvnews.com | 547-9738