Today In History:  20 July  [1948]   --  Lockheed Shooting Stars complete the first west-to-east transatlantic flight

Sixteen Lockheed P-80 "Shooting Stars" complete the first west-to-east transatlantic flight by jet aircraft. The P-80  was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, production models were flying, and two pre-production models did see very limited service in Italy just before the end of World War II. Designed with straight wings, the type saw extensive combat in Korea with the USAF as the F-80.

PHOTO: A U.S. Air Force Lockheed P-80A-1-LO Shooting Star (s/n 44-85004) in flight. This aircraft was later upgraded to an F-80C-11-LO.

Photo Attribution:  Public Domain CC BY-SA 3.0