RF-80A "Shooting Star"
The RF-80A was an F-80A, with a longer and deeper nose to house cameras in place of the six M 2 guns, initially on the basic aircraft. The RF80A's prototype (the XF 14) was flown in the fall of 1944. It was followed by the XRF-80A, a reconnaissance version of the production F-80A. The AAF earmarked 152 of the 917 F-80s procured under the first production contract for conversion to photographic models. These FP-80As were all accepted in FY 47.
To better fit these RF-80As for Korean operations, they were given improved photographic equipment. In 1953, 98 RF-80As exchanged their J33 A 11 engines for the more powerful J33 A25s. This upped performance and prolonged aircraft service life. However, no variant of the F-80A ever directly took part in the Korean conflict. In 1950 they were used in the United States for training. Production of jet fighter pilots was too important to be curtailed even temporarily. This fact rather than the aircraft's obsolescence was the reason they were kept at home.
The Air Force flew a few RF-80s until late 1957.
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