Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed in Burbank as Model 80 as the third prototype YP-80A for testing. Lockheed Constructors Number 080-1004. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-80A-1-LO Shooting Star serial number 44-83025.
Mission History
On October 20, 1944 at 5:10pm took off from Burbank Airfield piloted by Lockheed chief test pilot Milo Burcham on its maiden test flight and during the initial climb, flamed out due to the failure of the main fuel pump and crashed one mile to the north in Burbank. Burcham had not been told that an emergency back up pump had been installed and died in the crash.
Memorials
Burcham was killed in the crash at age 41. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - YP-80A Shooting Star 44-83025
"83025 crashed Oct 20, 1944 Burbank, CA, killing Milo Burcham. This was its maiden flight."
FindAGrave - Milo Garrett Burcham (photos)
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Last Updated
August 28, 2026
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