Greg “Wired” Colyer’s T-33 Shooting Star “Ace Maker”

The methods for training jet pilots in 1947 was 180 hours in the T-6, 50 hours in P-51 Mustangs and about 25 hours in a "captive" P-80.   

Finally in January 1948 a cost-conscious Air Force awarded a contract for 20 TF-80C jet trainers and the designation was later changed to T-33A.


The T-33 Heritage Foundation’s mission is to share and educate present and future generations about our Nation's proud aviation heritage, both on the ground and in the air.  We are dedicated to restoring, preserving, and maintaining Lockheed's T-33 Shooting Star and America's other Korean War era aircraft to honor the brave young airmen who flew our first generation of jets.  For information, visit http://www.t33heritagefoundation.org

The original trainer version was an F-80B fuselage with a 26-inch section added forward of the wingroot. 

Another 12-inch section was added forward of the rear fuselage for balance and stability. 

Additional differences between the P-80B and the TF-80C were: smaller 85 gallon fuselage fuel tank, nylon fuel cells, two .50 caliber guns instead of six, improved air conditioning, and of course dual fight controls. 

Also a six gun nose could be fitted to the T-33. 

Early models even had 1000 lb. bomb shackles on the wings. 

The only major change to the T-33 was the addition of Fletcher-type wingtip tanks. 

Almost 6000 T-33s were built, including 649 for the Navy and 1058 for foreign air forces. 

On November 8, 1950, the first jet-vs-jet aerial combat took place between a P-80 Shooting Star and a MIG-15 in the area in northwest Korea later known as "MIG Alley". 

Several days prior to the fateful day, Mig 15 jets had been encountered by USAF F-51Ds on patrol near the Yalu River area. 

On the afternoon of 8 November, Lt. Russell Brown piloting his Shooting Star of the 16th FISq, outmaneuvered two attacking Mig 15s, tacked onto the tail of one of them, and poured .50 caliber fire into him until the Mig exploded. 

It was the first of 827 Migs to be shot down in Korea and the first jet-vs-jet victory ever. 

Units in Korea also used the TF-80C/T-33 and the RF-80. TF-80C's and T-33's were used for photo-recon and pilot familarization flights.



Greg Colyer's T-33 Shooting Star will be appearing at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, April 28-29 at Half Moon Bay Airport.

Information above from Squadron/Signal Publications