Lockheed RF-80 in French Air Force

Thanks for that. I know Jean-Pierre and will get on to him today.

Easy mistake, esp since the photo is also labeled RT-80!
Check out the serial number on its fin (35790) and the reference I give below( (52-5790).

I have found a very good old article with a short mention of the RT-33.

Its from the AAHS Journal Vol 17 Nr 3 dated Fall 1972. Its an article titled “Thunderstreaks and Flashes over France” by a Mr Jean-Pierre Hoehn under the AAHS Research Project Nunber 7107.

Maybe you can contact him via the AAHS, but it has been a few years now since this was published.

QUOTE:As a final footnote to the history of the 33rd TRW, another American type should be mentioned. It survived the Thunderflash and, indeed, was in the early 1970’s still flying along with the Mach 2 Mirages in the unit. It is the RT-33, by now a rare type in service anywhere. Five of them were recently in France, 52-5790, 54-1543, 54-1548 ( coded 33-NY in 33rd TRW), 54-1549 and 54-1553. In the first full year of operation of the RF-84F’s most of the RT-33’s were assigned to Sqd 2/33. These bore the Sqd Insignia on either the black tanks or on the nose below the cockpit. Later when the Mirage appeared, they were removed from Sqd service, lost their insignia, and served in general training duties, liaison, and certain kinds of photorecce missions. It was implied that the RT-33 made better pictures than the Mirage, since it kept the American made cameras of larger film size than French.Though much slower than the Mirage or RF-84F, the RT-33 made an ideal shooting platform. For these reasons there were no plans for immediate phase-down.END OF QUOTE

RT-33

How right you are… and I should have known better!
Look before you leap!
However how about an exchange re the RT-33 in all air forces.
Attached is a photo of an RT-33 in USAF markings as used in SEA in Operation Field Goal prior to the escalation of the conflictand the arrival of the RF-101s. The airplane flew out of Udorn and Don Muang until the Able Mable Voodoos took over the tac recce in the area.

Your photo looks like a two seater to me. Therefore a RT-33A. I think all the recon nose’s were taken from older P/F-80’s. As we know there were many interchangable parts between the P/F-80 & T-33 series. I don’t believe the French AF used any P/F-80’s, only T-33’s. The exact number I don’t know offhand. Good Luck with your research on an interesting a/c and time period!