P- 80s over England 1945

P-80 at RR Hucknall info.

I’d like to see those.
I’ve always understood that early P-80s were painted.

Hi J. Boyle,

Just spoke to our man at Hucknall tonight, and states the following that the
P-80 at Hucknall was there to have a Nene fitted by the RR staff there.
From there it went for testing at RAF Church Broughton, where he states that
the aircraft crashed. No details yet on the bump, but I will inform you when
I know more. Church Broughton was used by RR whilst they had their concrete runway was being done. It was painted and not metal finished , so
I was wrong and hold my hands up. He will provide you with a shot of it on
the understanding that it is for own use.

Hope this helps,

Cheers JesseJames.

There is strong anecdotal evidence to suggest that the type was also deployed to RAF Balderton near Newark, as was the Whittle Jet earlier in the war. No timeframe details!

The Putnam Lockheed Aircraft book by Francillon, states the YP-80s were serialed from 44-83023 to 83035. And the fifth one was modifed by Rolls Royce to test the Nene prototype B-41. And that aircraft was lost in the UK.
The Burtonwood history agrees the plane lost was CN 1005…but five from 830023 would make that aircraft 83027, not the 026 as listed.

83023 was c/n 080-1002. See Baugher. I reckon 080-1001 was a static airframe, not an airworthy machine with an actual serial.

Follow the link at post #4

Looking at the photo, I’d say the ac had a light gray (called “Pearl Gray” in one occount) finish…typical of the early Shooting Stars. Back then, it was thought a smooth paint finish would increase the planes speed.
Every photo I’ve seen of YP-80s show them as gray.

Later it was determined the effort of touch up and maintence wasn’t worth the small (if any) speed advantage.

The Putnam Lockheed Aircraft book by Francillon, states the YP-80s were serialed from 44-83023 to 83035. And the fifth one was modifed by Rolls Royce to test the Nene prototype B-41. And that aircraft was lost in the UK.
The Burtonwood history agrees the plane lost was CN 1005…but five from 830023 would make that aircraft 83027, not the 026 as listed.

I’d like to see those.

Follow the link at post #4

I have seen pictures of a P-80 at Rolls-Royce/RAF Hucknall. This was a
polished metal finished example.

Cheers, JesseJames.

I’d like to see those.
I’ve always understood that early P-80s were painted.

P-80 U.K.

I have seen pictures of a P-80 at Rolls-Royce/RAF Hucknall. This was a
polished metal finished example.

Cheers, JesseJames.

28.01.45 YP-80A 44-83026 Crashed 3 miles west of Burtonwood,near Bold Lancs. Major FA Borsodi killed.He was the test pilot at Wright Field in July 1944 on P-51 dive tests.

Thanks very much for the info. Doug.

Is there anyone out there who has any knowledge relating to the basing of P-80s in or close to England. We know they had two in Italy. Thanks.

Two at Burtonwood – see: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/lait/site/YP-80A%20%2044-83026.htm

Hope this helps.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p80_3.html

In the course of researching the early years of the Lockheed P-80 I had course to correspond at length with the late Robin Olds. He told me he was flying his P-51 somewhere over England in 1945 and: “I came across what turned out to be an 80. I tried to bounce him but he high tailed it, disappearing quickly. The fact that it was a P-80 was verified”
Is there anyone out there who has any knowledge relating to the basing of P-80s in or close to England. We know they had two in Italy.
Thanks.

Rolls Royce had one, need to check the dates