first flight of the P82 was 15 June 1945, first production model came in 1946. Both my Grandfather on my mother's side and my father and 2 uncle's are all USAAF then to become USAF. My uncle Robert Walker was killed while in a chase plane covering flight of the then XB-70 when flying in the shadow of the XB-70 from below and just behind he rose above the shadow and was blinded by sunlight and struck the vertical stabilizer killing him and downing the XB-70 the crew survived. There is not a whole lot I do not know in airforce history being an AF brat. There are stories out there that are true of many aircraft all you have to do is a little research or be in the line of a long line of USAAF and USAF family and hear first hand. This lads story is not that far fetched but when you really think about it the time frame does lend merrit.