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    Lockheed P 80 F 80 Shooting Star.

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    Lockheed P 80 F 80 Shooting Star.

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    nascimec
    101 views89 pages

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    Lockheed P 80 F 80 Shooting Star.

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    of 89
    Front cover artwork by Steve Ferguson, Colorado Springs, CO. ‘TERRORS OF TAEGU ‘As of June, 1950, the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing stationed in Japan was one of the first all-et units in the new U.S. Air Force ready to counter the North Korean offen- sive. The 7th, 8th, and 9th Squadrons were equipped with the Lockheed F-80, the first operational jet aircraft in USAF service, when they advanced to Taegu, South Korea. The 49ers had gained fame in World War II while flying the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, but the new generation jet was not a comparable air-to-air fighter. The 49ers were relegated to tactical missions and proved the F-80 to be an excellent fighter-bomber, despite its limited range. ‘The cover depicts 8 FBS “Blacksheep" in a napalm attack on a communica- tions center in the snow dusted highlands of North Korea circa early 1951. Their ‘Shooting Stars carry the notorious *Misawa’ tip-tanks which afforded them the range to reach the most distant targets. The 49ers eventually transitioned to the Republic F-84 Thunderjet as the F-80s fell into obsolescence. Dedicated to Homer D. McLaren “Ab Origine Fidus" Book Design by lan Robertson. Copyright © 1996 by David R. McLaren. Library of Congress Catalog Number: 95-72398 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any forms ‘or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission from the copyright holder. Printed in China. ISBN: 0-88740-907-5 We are interested in hearing from authors with book ideas on related topics. Published by Schifer Publishing Lid "77 Lowor Valley Road ‘aigion, PA 18310 Please wit fora tree catalog “This book may be purchased from the publisher. Please include $295 postage. "Ty your bookstore frst Chapter I Chapter Il Chapter Ill Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Contents Foreword... In The Beginning Stateside Fighter Units ... Test Birds To Europe In The South Pacific Recce Stars... The United States Navy .. Aerobatic Teams... North To Alaska .. The Air National Guard ... The Korean War. The Air Force Reserves .. Foreign Service The End of the Line Specifications .. Serial Numbers.. Bibliography & Acknowledgements 4 Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star Foreword the United States Army Air Force's first operational jet fighter. With this in mind, remember that although the F-80 was aesthetically attractive, it was a machine of war, to be maintained and flown by warriors. fighter aircraft is noth- ing more than a highly mobile gun platform operated by a skilled combatant. To this end, it may seem, particularly in the portion of this book on the Korean War, that | have placed (00 much emphasis on detailing the circumstances of those pilots that were lost. Well, this was my intention, as this book is intended to be a tribute to both the aircraft and the pilots that flew it in the "Forgotten War.” T: ‘Shooting Star was designed from the onset to be OPPOSITE: The dark stripe above the number 34 contained a simple string that would slew off tothe side, indicating to the pilot that the Sircraft wee yawing. Although new, the grey paint is already begin= hing to show wear, and it was soon done away with, as it was superfiuous to the operation ofthe aircraft. (USAF) ‘One thing that should be mentioned here, also, is that | have used interchangeably the designations of “Field” and “air Force Base” as well as P-80 and F-80. In September 1947 the signing of the National Security Act that created the United States Air Force also brought about the redesignation ofall Air Fields to Air Force Bases. In June 1948 all Air Force fighters were changed from “P,” pursuit, to “F," fighter. As the time span covering the history of the Shooting Star jumps back and forth across this period from chapter to chapter so ‘often, | felt it best to just continue with using the dual desig- nations, for continuities sake, Foreword 5 6 Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star Chapter I: In The Beginning cred aircraft began in the late 1930s, the war clouds ‘and national security of the involved nations obscured 1e knowledge of most of these programs from the general public. Frank Whittle of Britain was the first to perfect a viable jet engine. Germany was the first to get a jet powered aircraft into the air, on August 27, 1939, with the Heinkel He 178, But tne aircraft industry in the United States at this time was con- centrating upon developing newer and faster conventionally powered aircraft, along with planning how to gear-up these industries for the anticipated mass production of these air- craft for the foreseeable war. ‘Then, in 1941 the Bell Aircraft Corporation was awarded « contract forthe first American built jet fighter, the XP-59A, their Model 27. This aircraft was equipped with two I-16 en- gines, based upon Whitte’s original design, and were sup- plied from British sources, At this time the American engine manufactures were stil involved with developing conventional engines. First flown on October 1, 1942, the XP-59A proved to be 2 disappointment, for many reasons, even though it was on the cutting edge of the new era. Aerodynamically it suffered from 1930s technology and its critical Mach, the maximum attainable speed it could reach, was held back by its very shape and airfoil employed. The British furnished engines ‘were less than sufficiently powerful for the XP-59As weight and inherent drag. Depending on altitude, it was some 50 mph slower than the presently operational fighters, the P-38 ‘and P-40, and 75 mph slower than the early P-47 and P-51 models. ‘Although the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, CA had indicated in late 1939 that they were interested in be- ‘coming involved in a jet propelled aircraft program, this was cfcialy discouraged by the War Department. They wanted Lockheed to concentrate on their P-38 and other programs for the duration. Finally, in May 1943, their Chief Research Engineer, Clarence *Kelly" Johnson was approached by Army Air Force officials while he was observing some P-38 armament trials at Eglin Field, FL and informed that the Air Force was now interested in seeing a proposal from Lockheed for a new jet propelled fighter. The idea for which had never been far from

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