P-80 at southbend airport (now with pics)

[mustangdriver]

I had some work to do out there and thought I'd swing by the reported shooting star. I found it with a Huey dust off and some tanks. I'll post some pics but it has an odd photo recon nose on it. Any one have more info?

Last edited by mustangdriver on Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Clifford Bossie]

An RF-80? Or some kind of other recce nose?

[mustangdriver]

Yeah exactly. It has one big camera window on the left side three windows on the bottom and one small one on the right side. It's got to be some what of a rare variant I would guess

[Nathan]

Something like this Chris?
http://www.sembachveterans.org/rf80a.htm

I didnt know there was a recon version of the F-80!

P.S. Thanks for the X-MAS card Chris!

[mustangdriver]

Yeah that's it. Pretty wild. It's kept in nice shape considering being outside. One thing that impressed me was that while I was there the airport crews where plowing the parking lots and roads. While there crews Were taking the time to clean snow off of the tanks, hummvee, Huey, duece and a half, and the jet.

[mustangdriver]

Glad you liked it man.

[RickH]

Before they closed Bergstrom in Austin they had a collection of all of the RF jet aircraft. NMUSAF dispersed them when they closed the base. The list included the RF-80, RF-84, RF101, RF-4. Seems like ther were others but I forget.

The only YRF105 ever built is on a pole at the Medina Annex at Lackland. Don't remember if it was at Bergstrom.

[mustangdriver]

I think that's where I've changed the most since joining here. I understand tat alot of warbirds survived because they were gate guards but it's time for most of them to come in from the cold. Even more so when it's rare. I am thankful they survive, but I'm just looking toward the future.

[Clifford Bossie]

Before they closed Bergstrom in Austin they had a collection of all of the RF jet aircraft. NMUSAF dispersed them when they closed the base. The list included the RF-80, RF-84, RF101, RF-4. Seems like ther were others but I forget.

The only YRF105 ever built is on a pole at the Medina Annex at Lackland. Don't remember if it was at Bergstrom.

It seems to me that I remember an RB-66 also. I hated to see Bergstrom close. It was one of my favorite bases

There were actually three JF-105Bs (54-105, 54-108 and 54-112) that were ordered as RF-105Bs, but when the USAF chose the RF-101 the three were completed as JF-105Bs with the modified nose but sans cameras. One is indeed preserved at Lackland. For a time another was at Sheppard. I don't know what ever happened to that one, nor the third one.

The RF-80 saw extensive service in the Korean War. (Too bad it is not in the NMUSAF) There were also a good number of RT-33s as well. I think the old Heller 72nd scale Tbird came with the RT nose.

[mustangdriver]

Ok I checked my pics and I will post them soon but it must be an RT-33. I just noticed the canopy. It has no tip tanks. Serial number on tail is 124933

[Dan Johnson II]

Something like this Chris?
http://www.sembachveterans.org/rf80a.htm

I didnt know there was a recon version of the F-80!

P.S. Thanks for the X-MAS card Chris!

And early Recce P80 of the 12th Recon, 1948


The pilots of the 12th Recon. Clyde East is in the photo somewhere along with a number of other WW2 veteran pilots. Some serious hashmarks on the left sleeves of a number of them. One with both USAF and RAF wings too.

[mustangdriver]

[Clifford Bossie]

Cool! That is an RT-33 (dang it looks cold there!), though the tail number looks more like a bureau number than a serial. While it could possibly be a TV-2 I don't remember the USN operating camera nose Tbirds. Neat find, thanks for posting the photos.

Also an M35 "deuce and half". M60A3, UH-1H (or D?), I do not remember the M number for the Hum-Vee and a towed 155mm howitzer. Neat stuff.

[N3Njeff]

The Deuce is a M35A2
M998 is the HUMVEE
Way down behind the M60 tank is one of my favorites..............M42 Duster.


Where is this again?????? Do you think they would miss that 155???? It would look great behind my tractor

[Clifford Bossie]

The Deuce is a M35A2
M998 is the HUMVEE
Way down behind the M60 tank is one of my favorites..............M42 Duster.


Where is this again?????? Do you think they would miss that 155???? I would look great behind my tractor

Oh, I missed the Duster until you pointed it out! Might start a Duster thread later, AAA on an aviation board

The 155 is the accesory every collector needs behind there truck.