I am amazed to learn that the P-80 was operational before the end of WWII.
At least those guys didn’t get pasted by Vesuvius like the B-25’s when the volcano corked off a year earlier in 1944. Airborne ash is fierce stuff.
As far as I have read, the F80s did not see combat though they were flying as early as 1943. Would love to know if anyone has information on them being used in aerial or ground support combat.
I met the American flier who shot down two M262’s. Believe his name was George Drew. You can see one of his strafing runs in the film that shows a French/German ammo train blowing up from his hits as he flies into the blasts.