<article><hdr>Airborne shot of a Northrop F-15</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The Northrop P-61 Black Widow night fighter was redesigned for the reconnaissance with the designation F-15A and with the name Reporter assigned. An XP-61E and a P-61A were converted as the prototypes for the F-15 programme, with the designation XF-15 and XF-15A assigned. Thirty six F-15As were ordered in 1946, subsequently changing designation to RF-61C in 1948. The nose was modified with a series of camera ports to enable high resolution photography to be obtained. However the Reporters were retired by 1952 having been replaced by more capable jet powered reconnaissance types.</hi>
