05/31/2010. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "As the first jet aircraft accepted for operational service by the USAAF, the Lockheed P-80 is assured of a lasting place in history. Developed in the latter part of WW II, it was one of the first types of aircraft operated by the USAF in the Korean War, with considerable success. Development of the Lockheed jet fighter began in June 1943, when the company was officially invited to design an aircraft around the de Havilland H-1 turbojet newly developed in Britain. Lockheed's design team led by Clarence 'Kelly' L. Johnson completed project details in one week and proposed a 180-day schedule for prototype construction, to which the Army Air Force agreed. Contracts were drawn up for three prototypes and a service trials batch of thirteen.

Built at Burbank, the first prototype, XP-80 (s/n 44-83020), was at Muroc Dry Lake 139 days after work started, and four days later, on January 8, 1944, Milo Burcham made the first two flights. The XP-80 was a sleek low-wing monoplane with the center line of the equi-tapered wing just aft of the fuselage midpoint. A laminar-flow section with a knife leading edge was used. Air intakes for the 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) st H-1 turbojet were in the fuselage side forward of the leading edge, and the armament comprised five 0.50 in (12.7 mm) guns grouped in the nose.

Production P-80s were intended to be powered by the H-1 engine produced by Allis-Chalmers as the J36, but the failure of this program led to adoption of the Allison-developed General Electric J33 in all but the first prototype. With this engine, the two other prototypes were designated XP-80A (s/n 44-83021, 44-83022), and the first was flown on June 10, 1944, by Tony LeVier. The new engine was rated at 3,750 lb (1,701 kg) and the design of the aircraft was altered somewhat to accommodate the greater weight and increased power.

Changes included an increase in gross weight from 8,916 lb to 13,780 lb (4,044 to 6,251 kg), in wing span from 37 ft to 38 ft 10.5 in (11.28 to 11.85 m), in fuselage length from 32 ft 10 in to 34 ft 6 in (10.01 to 10.52 m), a taller fin with rounded top and a stronger landing gear. In the thirteen YP-80As (s/n 44-83023 to 44-83035), a vigorous attempt to save weight kept the gross down to 11,500 lb (5,216 kg). Whereas the XP-80As had the original General Electric I-40 engines, the service trials aircraft had production-model J33-GE-9 or J33-GE-11 engines. Armament was increased to six 0.50 (12.7 mm) guns in the nose. The first YP-80A was delivered in October 1944, and two aircraft reached Italy shortly before the end of the war in Europe.

Plans for production of the Shooting Star were made on a large scale during 1944, and involved North American as well as Lockheed, with con-tracts for 5,000 either placed or planned. More than 3,000 of these were cancelled after WW II, Lockheed actually building 525 of the P-80A model which was similar to the YP-80A in most respects. Deliveries to the USAAF began in December 1945. The addition of wing tip tanks and under-wing bombs or tanks increased the gross weight to an eventual 14,500 lb (6,577 kg); the Allison J33-A-17 became standard in the final batches. A feature of early P-80As was the overall light grey finish used to seal all skin joints. It was too hard to maintain in service and was deleted for the natural metal finish.

The 5,200 lb (2,359 kg) J33-A-21 engine (with water injection), provision for JATO and a thinner wing distinguished the F-80B, which appeared in 1946. A total of 240 of the late production P-80As were either completed as P-80Bs or converted to this standard. Also in 1946, one aircraft (s/n 44-85200) from the first batch of 500 P-80As was specially modified for an attempt on the World Air Speed Record, for which it had a J33-A-23 engine, with water-alcohol injection, clipped wings, a smaller cockpit canopy and a high-speed finish. On June 19, 1947, this aircraft was flown by Colonel Albert Boyd to establish a record at 623.8 mph (1,003.9 kmh). At first known as the XP-80B, this aircraft was re-designated XP-80R and after the record flights was used to test NACA flush intakes.

With the same engine as the racer and other small changes, the P-80C was the final production version of the single-seat Shooting Star, with 798 produced in 1948 and 1949. The later production models had the 5,400 lb (2,449 kg) J33-A-35 engine, and a gross weight of 16,000 lb (7,257 kg). On June 11, 1948, the designation of all Shooting Stars in service was changed from P-80 to F-80.

Although the P-80 had reached USAAF squadrons too late to see service in Europe or the Far East in 1945, it was on hand in large numbers when the Korean conflict began in June 1950. F-80s were stationed in the Far East at that time as interceptors, but the type was used principally in Korea for tactical ground attack duties. For operations from Japan, enlarged wing tip tanks were developed, with a capacity of 260 gal (984 l) compared with 165 gal (625 l) previously; in addition, four 5 in (12.7 cm) RPs were carried or, on shorter-range missions, eight RPs or two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or six Napalm bombs. An F-80 flown by Lieutenant Russel Brown destroyed a MiG-15 over Korea on November 8, 1950, in what is believed to be the first conclusive air combat between two jet fighters.

With the advent of the F-84 and F-86 after the end of the Korean War, most F-80s were assigned to a training role, or were allocated to Air National Guard units. Many F-80As and F-80Cs were eventually modified as drones, designated QF-80A and later QF-80F, as missile targets and to fly into radioactive clouds to collect fall-out samples, while others designated DF-80A were used as directors. Experimental variants included one F-80C (s/n 47-171) constructed of magnesium throughout; another (s/n 44-85044) with a second, prone-position, cockpit in the nose; an F-80C (s/n 49-429) on skis in Alaska; a P-80A (s/n 44-85116) with a rocket gun in the nose; a P-80A (s/n 44-83027) with a Rolls-Royce Nene engine and P-80A (s/n 44-85214) with Marquardt ramjets at the wing tips.

One of the thirteen service trials YP-80As was completed as the XF-14 (s/n 44-83024). It was followed by a reconnaissance variant of the production P-80A, the prototype of which was designated XFP-80A (s/n 44-85201). With cameras replacing guns in a lengthened and deepened nose, the FP-80A became a service variant, 152 being delivered. The designation was changed to RF-80A on June 11, 1948. Some F-80Cs were similarly converted to RF-80Cs.

In August 1947, Lockheed took an F-80C airframe (s/n 48-356) and lengthened the fuselage by 38,5 in (0.98 m) to provide space for a second cockpit in tandem with the first. The canopy was extended to cover both cockpits and the armament was deleted. Designated TF-80C, this version flew on March 22, 1948, and was ordered eventually in greater quantities than any other Shooting Star variant. It had the same J33-A-23 or J33-A-25 engine as the F-80C. Lockheed built 128 TF-80Cs before the designation was changed to T-33A on May 5, 1949; as the USAF's standard jet trainer, production of the T-33 continued until August 1959.

Included in the USAF procurement of T-33As were several hundred acquired for the MAP and delivered to foreign nations qualifying for such aid. The USAF also served as the procurement agency for T-33s acquired by the USN as TV-2s (later T-33Bs), and these also were assigned USAF serials when ordered, although they operated subsequently with BuNo According to Lockheed records, production of the T-33A for USAF, USN and MAP totaled 5,819, but the record of USAF assigned serial numbers indicates a total of 5,871, of which 649 were for the USN and 1,058 for MAP. The T-33A was also built under license in Japan and Canada for local use.

Included in the MAP contracts were 85 RT-33As. This was a special single-seat reconnaissance version, with the camera-carrying nose of the FP-80A, and electronic equipment occupying the rear cockpit beneath the standard full-length canopy of the T-33A. Some of the USAF aircraft were modified as drone directors, designated DT-33A, and others became AT-33A when fitted with armament for interdiction and close air support."