For the United States, that transition began with the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, America’s first operational jet fighter.

The aircraft continued the ascent for ... it eliminated the P (for “pursuit”) prefix in favor of F (“fighter”), redesignating its Shooting Stars F-80s. By 1949, the new Republic F-84 ...

Designed during the closing years of WWII and introduced in 1945, the P-80 bridged the gap between propeller-driven aircraft ...

P-80 "Bolt" Shooting Star The Shooting Star was the US Air Force's first operational fighter jet. The first Shooting Stars were delivered late in 1944. Advertisement All the Latest Game Footage ...

In Korea, he flew the F-80 Shooting Star jet fighter and earned medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1965 and received an honorary promotion to ...