F-80 Shooting Star Units of the Korean War

The F-80 Shooting Star was a pioneering jet fighter that saw service in World War 2 and the Korean War, completing 98,515 combat sorties and shooting down 17 aircraft. It was used by the 8th and 49th Fighter Bomber Wings and the ultra-rare photo-reconnaissance RF-80A. This book features first-hand accounts and rare colour photographs taken by the veterans themselves.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The F-80 Shooting Star, a remarkable aircraft, was created in just 180 days during 1943. It played a significant role in World War II, seeing service in Italy during the final year of the conflict. Following the end of the war, it was dispatched to bases in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. However, it was the units stationed in Japan that faced the initial brunt of the fighting in Korea, engaging MiG-15s in the world's first jet-versus-jet combat. The F-80 was primarily flown by the 8th and 49th Fighter Bomber Wings and served until the war's conclusion, completing an impressive 98,515 combat sorties. It shot down 17 aircraft, including three MiG-15s, dropped over 33,000 tons of bombs, and fired over 80,000 air-to-ground rockets. The F-80 Shooting Star was not just a fighter-bomber; it also served as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft, with the ultra-rare RF-80A being extensively utilized in the frontline in Korea as a replacement for the vulnerable RF-51D. This book is a captivating account of the F-80 Shooting Star, filled with first-hand accounts and rare color photographs taken by the veterans themselves. It provides a unique insight into the pioneering aircraft's history and its impact on the world.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 246 x 178 x 6 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472829054