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

Author: David R. McLaren

Publisher: Schiffer Pub Limited

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 9780887409073

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The Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star was the first American operational jet fighter. David McLaren's new book chronicles the development and early trials of the aircraft during Lockheed's groundbreaking attempts to create a viable jet fighter, in a period when jet propulsion was still an innovative unknown. This period also saw engineers and test pilots like Kelly Johnson and Tony LeVier facing many challenges, incidents and accidents as they attempted to create a new fighter from yet untested aerodynamic theories, and engines that were still under development. Also discussed are the record breaking transcontinental and absoulte speed records set by the Shooting Star. Detailed analysis of the Shooting Star's combat record in Korea shows why the F-80 flew more combat missions than any aircraft in the war theater. Also presented is a summation of all USAF, USAFR, and foreign countries that flew the P-80/F-80. David McLaren is also the author of Lockheed F-94 Starfire(with Marty Isham), and Beware the Thunderbolt!: The 56th Fighter Group in World War II (both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

American Aircraft Development Second World War Legacy
American Aircraft Development Second World War Legacy

Author: William J. Norton

Publisher: Fonthill Media

Published: 2021-12-02

Total Pages: 643

ISBN-13:

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This volume focuses on the influence of America’s Second World War aviation development and experience, subsequent aviation technological advances, and world events, in shaping American choices in military aircraft and associated weapons’ development during the few years following the war. It shows how air warfare weapons from the last conflict were carried forward and altered, how new systems evolved from these, and how the choices fared in the next war―Korea. The period was one of remarkable progress in a short span of time via a great many aircraft and weapons programs, and associated technological progress. These systems were of immense importance influencing and growing the engineering, production, and operational capabilities to be exploited for the next generation of weapons that soon followed. Emphasized is the innovative features or new technology and how these contributed to advancing American military aviation, influencing the evolution of follow-on models or types. Included are military prototype, experimental, and research aircraft that are equally important in understanding the history of American aircraft development. Combat employment, progress, and equipment adaptation during the Korean Conflict is then highlighted. Tabulated characteristics are provided of those aircraft that entered production or represented significant technological advances influencing others that follow.

Aircraft Markings of the Strategic Air Command, 1946-1953
Aircraft Markings of the Strategic Air Command, 1946-1953

Author: Rick Rodrigues

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2024-10-17

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 147660312X

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In the aftermath of World War II, the Continental Air Command was redesignated as the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as part of a plan to organize the Army Air Forces around three new organizations based on strategic, tactical and air defense missions. Nearly everything about the SAC was secretive--its capabilities, strengths, order of battle and unit identities. Its aircraft were rarely photographed and those images that were captured revealed little information. This book comprehensively documents SAC tactical aircraft markings from the organization's inception in 1946 to the end of the tail-marking era in April 1953, a period when the marking schemes included large tail markings, vivid squadron identification markings and attractive, colorful unit insignia. The SAC's history is described along with the evolution of its aircraft markings policy and basic definitions of markings terminology. There are individual unit sections on SAC's bombardment, strategic reconnaissance and fighter groups and wings. The text is heavily illustrated and features many never before seen photographs of SAC aircraft in full war paint.

Down In The Weeds - Close Air Support In Korea
Down In The Weeds - Close Air Support In Korea

Author: William Y’Blood

Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing

Published: 2015-11-06

Total Pages: 90

ISBN-13: 1786252236

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Before the Korean War, the primary mission of Lt. Gen. George E. Stratemeyer’s Far East Air Forces was air defense of the Japanese homeland. Most of the aircraft constituting Stratemeyer’s inventory were interceptors, not designed for the type of combat that would be required now that the United States was joining in the UN effort to end the war in Korea. The Joint Army/USAAF doctrine of 1946, known as Field Manual 31–35, Air Ground Operations, was also considered outdated in the present circumstance. A new approach to warfighting had to be developed in response to the strong influence of General Douglas MacArthur and other of his air officers in the Army-dominated General Headquarters Far East Command. Close air support of the ground forces as provided by Fifth Air Force came at some cost, and tempers flared in the process, but the air commanders in Korea never deprived the ground commanders of close air support if it was needed. Indeed, without the close air support provided to the airmen, the ground campaign would have been a much more bloody and difficult affair than it was.

Warbirds
Warbirds

Author: John C. Fredriksen

Publisher: ABC-CLIO

Published: 1999-11-02

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13:

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Warbirds pays special attention to the aircraft of America's Golden Age, 1919–1939, and the breakthrough technological developments of that era. Warbirds offers more than 300 A–Z entries of the aircraft of America's Golden Age. Each entry includes a photograph of the warplane, service dates, manufacturer, records set, engineering and performance history, technical innovations, and even operational problems. To help enthusiasts and researchers, the guide cites the very latest books and periodical literature in its two extensive bibliographies. It also lists aviation museums, airplane magazines, and sources of photographs.

F-80 Shooting Star Units of the Korean War
F-80 Shooting Star Units of the Korean War

Author: Warren Thompson

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2019-06-27

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13: 1472829069

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Built within a 180-day time limit in 1943, the F-80 Shooting Star first saw service in Italy in the final year of World War 2, and consequently was sent to bases in the US, Europe and the Far East after VJ Day. It was the latter groups based in Japan that initially bore the brunt of the early fighting in Korea, engaging MiG-15s in the world's first jet-versus-jet combat. Flown principally by the 8th and 49th Fighter Bomber Wings, the F-80 served until the end of the war, completing an astonishing 98,515 combat sorties, shooting down 17 aircraft (including three of the vastly superior MiG-15s), dropping over 33,000 tons of bombs, and firing over 80,000 air-to-ground rockets. Aside from the fighter-bomber Shooting Stars, the ultra-rare, but heavily used, photo-reconnaissance RF-80A saw extensive use in the frontline in Korea as a replacement for the vulnerable RF-51D. Filled with first-hand accounts and rare colour photographs taken by the veterans themselves, this is the engrossing story of the pioneering F-80 Shooting Star.