p80

A Lockheed F-80C, serial 49-771, of the 41st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 35th FIG.

This pamphlet for the Army Air Forces Fair held at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio in October 1945 includes a map of the fairgrounds and a drawing of the new Army Air Forces P-80 "Shooting Star" jet aircraft. The fair commemorated the end of World War II and was a showplace for the United States' new airpower. Many military aircraft were displayed, including several captured German and Japanese airplanes. Three years after the war, the United States Air Force was created as an organization independent from the Army Air Forces. This could not have been as quickly realized without the immense public interest in aviation generated by exhibits such as these. The three-page brochure is 10" x 8" (25.4 x 20.32 cm). www.ohiomemory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p267401c...

Info from forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org 44-85313 buzz code FT-313, Lockheed P-80A-1-LO Shooting Star. Redesignated to a F-80A-1-LO on 11 June 1948. 1949: USAF 3525th PTG. 8/16/1949: Crashed near Shreveport APT, LA in bad weather. Also in shot 44-85280 buzz code FT-280 1949-50: USAF 3525th PTG. 7/21/1950: Crashed near Sacaton, AZ after a collision with F-80A 44-85303. 44-85338 buzz code FT-338 1950: USAF 3625th MS. 7/24/1950: Crashed near Buckeye AAF, AZ due to engine failure. 44-85274 buzz code FT-274 1948-50: USAF 3525th PTG. 3/14/1950: Crashed near Kirtland AFB, NM after a collision with T-33A 49-893. None of these 4 aircraft survived beyond 1950 !