The US Army Air Forces' First Operational Fighter Jet Flew Secret Missions During World War II

The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, alternatively referred to as the F-80, is well-known as the first operational fighter jet used by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). Despite the main spotlight on German advancements in discussions of World War II aviation technology, the P-80 left a considerable mark and played a key role in shaping later progressions in the aviation field.

Development of jet technology during World War II

When exploring the advanced aircraft of the Second World War , German iterations, such as the Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger , the Messerschmitt Me 262 and Heinkel He 163 Komet often take center stage. However, the Allies were not far behind in the race to develop jet technology.

The British made a significant breakthrough with the invention of the first turbojet engine by Royal Air Force (RAF) officer Frank Whittle in 1930. Whittle's innovation paved the way for the Gloster E.28/39, the Allies' first jet-engine aircraft, which took to the skies in 1941. Following suit, the United States introduced its first jet fighter, the Bell P-59 Airacomet, which was put into service in October 1942.

Despite the production of 66 units , the P-59 failed to see operational action, due to its deficiencies in combat effectiveness, falling behind the latest piston-powered fighters. Its performance also fell short of expectations, with the RAF deeming it inferior to the Gloster Meteor . Consequently, the American jet fighter found its niche in pilot training, rather than frontline deployment.

Closing the gap

Recognizing the need to catch up with British and German advancements, the United States initiated the development of the P-80 Shooting Star. Crafted by Lockheed, it stood as the sole Allied jet during WWII to have its engine mounted within the fuselage.

The impetus for the P-80's creation stemmed from the Allies' awareness of the Messerschmitt Me 262, discovered in spring 1943. The US opted to leverage existing British jet research, fitting the aircraft with the Halford H-1B Goblin engine to endow the P-80 with performance capabilities matching the Me 262.

The P-80's development began in May 1943 - without the engine, as it wasn't yet available from the United Kingdom. Lockheed's Chief Engineer Kelly Johnson assembled a team of engineers and issued a mandate: develop a new aircraft prototype for the USAAF with utmost secrecy. They worked diligently, putting in six 10-hour days a week , aiming to complete the new jet fighter within 150 days.

The Skunk Works team successfully produced the first prototype - the XP-80 Lulu-Belle - in early 1944, after 141 days of intensive work. Propelled by the British H-1B engine, Lulu-Belle took its inaugural flight on January 8 of that year and, in subsequent tests, exceeded 500 MPH at an altitude of over 20,000 feet. This achievement marked it as the first USAAF turbojet aircraft to surpass that speed in level flight

Following the first flight, Johnson remarked , "It was a magnificent demonstration, our plane was a success - such a complete success that it had overcome the temporary advantage the Germans had gained from years of preliminary development on jet planes." This success prompted the development of additional prototypes.

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star specs

The P-80 Shooting Star's development focus honed in on balancing the fuselage to ensure an even center of gravity. Pilots enjoyed a large, obstruction-free view from the cockpit thanks to its bubble canopy. As production ramped up, the original British engine gave way to an internally fitted Allison J33-A-35 engine, boosting 4,600 pounds of dry thrust . This upgrade allowed for speeds of Mach 0.76 and maintained a range of 825 miles.

Armed to the teeth, the single-seater P-80 housed a formidable array of weaponry. Its primary armament consisted of six .50 AN-M3 Browning machine guns located in the nose, accompanied by eight High-Velocity Aerial Rockets (HVAR) and two 1,000-pound bombs affixed to the wings' hardpoints via specially designed rails. Due to the jet's compact size, mounting additional weapons or munitions originally posed challenges.

Flying secret missions over Italy

The USAAF was eagerly anticipating the deployment of the P-80 Shooting Star into the war, potentially even in combat against the German Me 262. A modest unit made up of just four pre-production YP-80As flew to Europe: two of these went to the United Kingdom for demonstration and familiarization flights, while the remaining two went to Italy to join with the 1st Fighter Group at Lesina Airfield.

In Italy, the YP-80As found themselves in an interesting situation. The Luftwaffe had already been using its own jet aircraft along the Italian Front, with Arado Ar 234B Blitz reconnaissance jets crossing over Allied lines on missions. The YP-80A had the potential to change this situation as the Luftwaffe jets couldn't be intercepted by conventional Allied aircraft.

Officially, a YP-80A assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron undertook two operational sorties in Italy. Although the details of these missions remain unknown, they were documented as non-combat engagements. Despite the initial plan being for the aircraft to be more involved in the conflict, production delays prevented this from occurring.

Death of Richard Bong

Maj. Richard Bong was the top American flying ace during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. He scored his first kill in December 1942 and added four more the following summer, earning a promotion to captain. By the end of the war, he had surpassed the well-known World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker , with a total of 40 credited kills .

After his time in the USAAF, Bong became a test pilot. On August 6, 1945, he flew a P-80 Shooting Star, which experienced a problem with its primary fuel pump. Bong failed to engage the auxiliary fuel pump, and when he attempted to eject from the aircraft, he was too close to the ground, leading to his untimely death.

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star's post-war service

Following WWII, the P-80 Shooting Star continued its service in diverse capacities, notably as a fighter-bomber in Korea under the designation F-80. Some units of the P-80A were supplied to the US Navy, undergoing modifications for deployment aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB/CVA/CV-42).

With production exceeding 1,700 units , the P-80 underwent various upgrades and transformations, eventually transitioning into the T-33 trainer. This version served in numerous air forces globally, totaling 6,557 produced units by 1959.

Beyond its operational roles, the P-80 left a lasting mark on aviation history by achieving several records. On June 19, 1947, a P-80R, piloted by Col. Albert Boyd, set the world speed record at 623.73 MPH. Additionally, the aircraft played a pivotal role in the advancement of aerial refueling, becoming the first jet to successfully undergo mid-flight refueling in a combat scenario.

Deployment of the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star

The most well-known variant of the P-80 Shooting Star was the F-80. Intended to be a high-altitude interceptor, it took on a number of roles throughout the Korean War, including as a photo reconnaissance aircraft (RF-80), a day fighter and a fighter-bomber. It notably flew combat sorties against North Korean-flown Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15s , as well as against Ilyushin Il-10 ground attack aircraft and Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters.

Most notably, the F-80C secured the first American jet-versus-jet kill during a dogfight against enemy MiG-15s on November 8, 1950, with pilot Lt. Russell Brown in the cockpit. An estimated 75 percent of enemy losses during the first months of the conflict were attributed to the aircraft. That being said, 368 were lost , the majority to ground fire.

Given its WWII-era origins, the F-80 was slower than anticipated. This eventually led to the North American F-86 Sabre taking over the aircraft's combat role in Korea.

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star's legacy

The P-80 Shooting Star was instrumental in propelling the progress of jet aviation in the US, and it played a vital role in shaping the trajectory of jet fighters. By showcasing the capabilities of jet-powered aircraft, the P-80 laid the groundwork for subsequent, more sophisticated designs like the F-86 Sabre and MiG-15 that emerged in the years to come.

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The evolution and eventual deployment of the P-80 underscored America's dedication to pushing the boundaries of aviation and securing dominance in the skies. While it may not experience the same level of renown as some of its counterparts, its significant contributions to jet aviation and the post-war period deserve recognition and appreciation.