Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star
Technical Information

Background
The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) was designed by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson in only 143 days to counter the German Me 262 jet fighter. On January 8, 1944 the prototype XP-80 powered by a British de Havilland Halford H.1B turbojet piloted by Lockheed test pilot Milo Burcham made a successful first flight. In later tests, it reached a top speed of 502 mph at 20,480' and was the first USAAF turbojet to exceed 500 mph in level flight.

The second prototype XP-80A "Lulu-Belle / The Green Hornet" 44-83020 was powered by a larger General Electric I-40 engine, later built by Allison as the J33. Two were built: XP-80A "Gray Ghost" 44-83021 painted gray and XP-80A "Silver Ghost" 44-83022 unpainted aluminum. On October 20, 1944 the third prototype, YP-80A 44–83025 pilot Milo Burcham crashed due the main fuel pump failure and was killed in the crash. On March 20, 1945 XP-80A "Gray Ghost" 44-83021 pilot Tony LeVier suffered an engine malfunction and structural failure in the tail. Before it crashed, LeVier bailed out safely but suffered a back injury when he hit the ground. In February 1945, accepted by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) with an initial production order for 344 P-80As.

Wartime History
The P-80 became the first operational jet fighter in service with the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) with twelve pre-production YP-80A assigned and a thirteen YP-80A modified into the F-14 photographic reconnaissance model but crashed in December 1944. Four were sent to Europe for operational testing: two to the United Kingdom and two 1st Fighter Group (1st FG) at Lesina Airfield in Italy that both saw limited service in Italy on reconnaissance missions in February 1945 and March 1945 but did not engage in air combat.

Several P-80A were assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) and used the same designation with one adding an arrester hook to operate off USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) and made carrier take offs and landings piloted by USMC Major Marion E. Carl. By the end of July 1945, a total of 83 were built with 45 assigned to the 412th Fighter Group (later redesignated the 1st Fighter Group) at Muroc Army Air Field. If the Pacific War had continued, P-80 Shooting Stars would have been used against Japan.

Postwar
On January 27, 1946 a P-80 flown by Colonel William H. Councill non-stop across the United States from Long Beach to New York as the first transcontinental jet flight. On June 19, 1947 a modified P-80B prototype designated P-80R piloted by Colonel Albert Boyd set a world air speed record of 623.73 mph. On September 18, 1947 when the U.S. Air Force (USAF) was established the jet was redesignated as the F-80 and RF-80. In 1949, those in service with the USN and USMC were designated TO-1 and later TV-1.

Korean War
During the Korean War, the F-80 was involved in air combat. On November 1, 1950 a MiG-15 shot down a F-80 the first jet-versus-jet air combat kill, although the Americans claim it was lost to anti-aircraft fire. On November 8, 1950 an F-80 pilot Lt. Russell J. Brown claimed a MiG-15 shot down. Due to the straight wing design, the F-80 was inferior to the MiG-15 in air combat but claimed six shot down and equipped ten USAF squadrons during the conflict. Later, they were replaced by the F-86 Sabre in air supremacy and instead used for ground attack and photo reconnaissance and advanced training in Japan. On November 22, 1952 F-80 pilot Major Charles J. Loring Jr. earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

Foreign Operators
The Shooting Star was operated by South American countries including Brazil with the last retired from service in 1973, Chile with the last retired from service in 1974, Colombia with last retired in 1966. Ecuador with the last retired in 1965. Peru with the last retired in 1973. Uruguay with the last retired in 1972.

Production
A total of 1,715 were built.

Technical Details
Crew  One, Pilot
Length  34' 5" / 10.49 m
Wingspan  38' 9" / 11.81 m
Height  11' 3" / 3.43 m
Engine  1 × Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet with water injection.
Maximum Speed  594 mph at sea level
Range  850 miles
Armament  6 × .50 caliber M3 Browning machine guns with 300 rounds per gun
External  8 x 5" HVAR rockets / 2 x 1,000 pound bombs