Bell P-59 Airacomet: U.S first turbo engine AC that only had 50 or 60 into service. It was going to make its first combat mission hours before Germany surrenders.
the b25 had only one gun in the nose in the doolittle raid
Actually, the P-59 was never accepted for combat service. The performance didn't even match the capabilities of late-war prop birds of the time.The P-80 was the closest I believe of any American jet design to see combat during the war, and she missed out by several MONTHS.
You are right on that. The P-59 never saw service but the P-80 i believe it was the AC that was going to see it first combat mission hours before Germany surrender.
The YP-80 was still undergoing testing when the Bombs were dropped (Bong was killed testing one of them I think the day after Hiroshima). I don't think they were in service until after the Japanese surrender.
P-80s were undergoing operational testing in Italy at the end of the war.Dick Bong was killed flying a P-80.
Found it, "U.S. rushed four P-80s to Europe- two each to England and Italy- and they were hours from entering combat when World War II ended." Reading from "Aircraft of World War II" by Jim Winchester
Seems to be wishful thinking on the part of the author. From the 1st Fighter Group History. These guys had the two P80s in Italy. "the P-80s were brought over in early April 1945 by a Wright Field contingent 'for testing under combat conditions in a remote location'. The Remote location was correct but combat conditions? Surely not. To be sure they were in an Operational area,but aside from occasional flights in the local area, not a great deal was accomplished."Sure doesn't sound like they were hours from entering combat based on the guys who had them
Ok, where are you getting your info?
From the 1st Fighter Group History.
