The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star—later redesignated the F-80—holds the distinction of being the first jet fighter to enter combat service with the United States Army Air Forces. While German jets such as the Messerschmitt Me 262 often dominate World War II aviation narratives, the P-80 was instrumental during the final stages of the conflict and helped establish the technological foundation for subsequent generations of American jet aircraft.
Development of jet technology during World War II
When discussing advanced WWII aircraft, German models like the Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger, Messerschmitt Me 262 and Heinkel He 163 Komet often come to mind. However, the Allies weren’t far behind with the development of jet technology.
The British pioneered the first turbojet engine. It was designed by Royal Air Force (RAF) officer Frank Whittle in 1930, and the breakthrough led to the creation of the Gloster E.28/39, the first Allied jet aircraft, which made its first flight in 1941. Not long after, the United States introduced its own jet fighter, the Bell P-59 Airacomet, which entered service in October 1942.
While 66 units were produced, the P-59 never saw combat, as it lacked the performance needed for battle. It couldn’t match the speed of the latest piston-powered fighters, and the RAF deemed it inferior to the Gloster Meteor. As such, it was primarily used for pilot training.
Closing the gap
Realizing the need to catch up with the British and Germans, the United States developed the P-80 Shooting Star. Designed by Lockheed, it was the only Allied jet of the Second World War to have the engine mounted within the fuselage.
The development of the P-80 was driven by the Allies’ discovery of the Messerschmitt Me 262 in spring 1943. The US decided to use existing British jet research and fit the aircraft with the Halford H-1B Goblin engine, to give the P-80 performance that could match the Me 262.
Work began on the P-80 in May 1943 – without the engine, as it wasn’t yet available from the United Kingdom. Lockheed Chief Engineer Kelly Johnson gathered a team of engineers and told them their orders: they were to develop a new aircraft prototype for the USAAF. They would perform their job with the utmost secrecy, working six 10-hour days a week, as this new jet fighter needed to be completed within 150 days.
Skunk Works created the first prototype, the XP-80 Lulu-Belle, in early 1944, after 141 days of work. Powered by the British H-1B engine, Lulu-Belle first flew on January 8 of that year and, in further tests, exceeded 500 MPH at over 20,000 feet. This made it the first USAAF turbojet aircraft to surpass that speed in level flight.
After 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 was designed with a carefully balanced fuselage to ensure its center of gravity was optimal. Its cockpit featured a bubble canopy, providing pilots with an expansive and unobstructed field of vision. As production progressed, the original British engine used in the prototype was swapped out for an American Allison J33-A-35 engine installed internally. This powerplant delivered 4,600 pounds of dry thrust, enabling the aircraft to reach speeds up to Mach 0.76 and achieve a range of roughly 825 miles.
As a single-seat fighter, the P-80 was equipped with a robust arsenal. Its primary armament consisted of six .50 caliber AN-M3 Browning machine guns mounted in the nose. Additionally, it could carry eight High-Velocity Aerial Rockets (HVAR) and two 1,000-pound bombs on wing hardpoints fitted with specialized rails. Despite this firepower, the jet’s compact size limited its capacity for carrying extra munitions or supplies.
Flying secret missions over Italy
The U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) were eager to put the P-80 Shooting Star to the test, seeking a jet fighter capable of matching the German Me 262. To assess its capabilities, four early YP-80A prototypes were deployed to Europe: two were stationed in the United Kingdom for training and demonstrations, while the other two joined the 1st Fighter Group at Lesina Airfield in Italy.
In Italy, the YP-80As faced a unique operational environment. The Luftwaffe was already utilizing jets in the region, most notably the Arado Ar 234B Blitz reconnaissance planes, which could track Allied movements and evade standard fighters with ease. The introduction of the YP-80A offered Allied forces a potential tool to counter these high-speed threats.
One YP-80A assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron flew two missions over Italy. Although detailed records of these sorties are sparse, they were officially categorized as non-combat flights. Production delays ultimately prevented the P-80 from achieving the widespread combat deployment that had originally been planned.
Death of Richard Bong
Maj. Richard Bong was the top American flying ace of the Second World War, serving in the Pacific Theater. He claimed his first kill in December 1942 and scored an additional four the following summer, securing a promotion to the rank of captain. By the time the conflict came to an end, he’d racked up more kills than famed World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker, with 40 credited to his name.
Following his service with the USAAF, Bong became a test pilot. On August 6, 1945, he took off in a P-80 Shooting Star, which immediately suffered a malfunction with its primary fuel pump. Bong never switched on his auxiliary fuel pump, and when he attempted to eject from the aircraft, he was too close to the ground and perished.
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star’s post-war service
Following World War II, the P-80 Shooting Star—redesignated as the F-80—remained an active part of the U.S. arsenal, notably serving as a fighter-bomber during the Korean War. The U.S. Navy also received modified P-80A units for operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42).
Over 1,700 P-80s were produced, and the platform saw continuous refinement. One of its most notable adaptations was the T-33 trainer, which went on to serve in the air forces of numerous countries, with 6,557 units produced before production ended in 1959.
Beyond combat, the P-80 helped push the boundaries of aviation. On June 19, 1947, Col. Albert Boyd flew a P-80R to a then-world speed record of 623.73 miles per hour. The aircraft also made history in aerial refueling, becoming the first jet to be successfully refueled mid-air under combat conditions.
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 played a pivotal role in advancing U.S. jet aviation and influencing the development of future jet fighters. Although its combat involvement in World War II was limited, the aircraft demonstrated the potential of jet propulsion and directly informed the design of later iconic jets, including the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15.
More from us: Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse: The German Bomber Destroyer That Was No Match for Allied Fighters
The creation and deployment of the P-80 highlighted America’s commitment to advancing aviation technology and securing air superiority. While it may not enjoy the same fame as other aircraft of its era, its influence on jet aviation and the shaping of post-war airpower is indisputable.