Dates

Event

1943

Constructed as a XP-80.

November 1943

Transported by ground.
Trucked from Lockheed, Burbank, CA to Muroc Army Air Field, CA.

16 November 1943

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-83020.

8 January 1944

First flight.
Powered by de Havilland-built Halford H.1B turbojet.

January 1944

Nicknamed Lulu Belle. Also known as The Green Hornet due to its green paint job.

From 1944 to 1945

Transferred to 412th Fighter Group, Bakersfield Municipal Airport, CA.
Operated with markings: 78

Starred in a series of exercises conducted to develop tactics that American heavy bomber crews could use against attacks by jet fighters. The trials showed that enemy jet fighter pilots would much prefer rear aspect attacks. Based on these findings, AAF planners moved the formations of American fighters protecting the bombers to higher altitudes. These tactics proved effective in fending off Me 262 attacks during the last months of the war and undoubtedly saved the lives of many American bomber crewmen. (NASM).

1945

Transferred to Muroc AAF, CA.
For testing.

18 September 1947

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 44-83020.

Circa 1947

Transferred to Army Air Force Training Command, Chanute AAF, Rantoul, IL.

8 November 1949

To Smithsonian National Air Museum, Washington, DC.

1976

To Smithsonian-National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC.
View the Location Dossier

From 1976 to May 1978

Restored.
Markings Applied: 78

10 June 1991

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

August 2015

Photographer: Gustavo Bonilla

3 June 2016

Photographer: Arjun Sarup
Notes: Lulu-Belle on display in the Jet Aviation exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum. Also called the Green Hornet, it was the first USAAF jet to exceed 500 mph in level flight. The design led to the P-80 Shooting Star.