Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
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The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star is an early jet fighter that was designed and built by Lockheed. It was the first jet aircraft to be used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces, flying act
P-80A with "tip tanks"
The original XP-80 prototype Lulu-Belle
XP-80A Gray Ghost in flight
Operational P-80Bs at Langley AFB
Richard Bong
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Richard Ira "Dick" Bong was a United States Army Air Forces officer and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
…first prototype performed its maiden flight. During early flights of the P-80, multiple pilots lost their lives, including one of America's top aces, Richard Bong. By the end of 1944, 12 pre-production aircraft had been delivered to the USAAF. While two pre-production aircraft saw limited service in Italy just…
Major Bong c. 1945
Major Bong in his P-38
Major Bong with General Douglas MacArthur and General Kenney on December 12, 1944
Bong was killed in 1945 while testing a P-80A similar to this one.