The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic
jet trainer
A jet trainer is a jet aircraft for use as a Trainer (aircraft), trainer, whether for basic or advanced flight training. Jet trainers are either custom designs or modifications of existing aircraft. With the introduction of military jet-powered ai ...
. It was produced by
Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the
Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the U.S. Navy initially as TO-2, then TV-2, and after 1962, T-33B. The last operator of the T-33, the
Bolivian Air Force
The Bolivian Air Force (BAF; or 'FAB') is the air force of Bolivia and branch of the Bolivian Armed Forces.
History
By 1938 the Bolivian air force consisted of about 60 aircraft ( Curtiss Hawk fighters, Curtiss T-32 Condor II and Junkers ...
, retired the type in July 2017, after 44 years of service.
Design and development
The T-33 was developed from the
Lockheed P-80/F-80 by lengthening the
fuselage
The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...
by slightly more than 3 feet (1 m) and adding a second seat, instrumentation, and flight controls. It was initially designated as a variant of the P-80/F-80, the TP-80C/TF-80C.
Design work on the Lockheed P-80 began in 1943, with the first flight on 8 January 1944. Following on the
Bell P-59, the P-80 became the first jet fighter to enter full squadron service in the
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
. As more advanced jets entered service, the F-80 took on another role—training jet pilots. The two-place T-33 jet was designed for training pilots already qualified to fly propeller-driven aircraft.
Originally designated the TF-80C, the T-33 made its first flight on 22 March 1948 with Lockheed test pilot
Tony LeVier at the controls. Production at Lockheed ran from 1948 to 1959. The
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
used the T-33 as a land-based trainer starting in 1949. It was designated the TV-2, but was redesignated the T-33B in 1962. The Navy operated some ex-USAF P-80Cs as the TO-1, changed to the TV-1 about a year later. A
carrier-capable version of the P-80/T-33 family was subsequently developed by Lockheed, eventually leading to the late 1950s to 1970s
T2V-1/T-1A SeaStar. The two TF-80C prototypes were modified as prototypes for an all-weather two-seater fighter variant, which became the
F-94 Starfire. A total of 6,557 T-33s were produced: 5,691 of them by Lockheed, 210 by Kawasaki, and 656 by Canadair.
Operational history
U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy

The two-place T-33 proved suitable as an advanced trainer, and it has been used for such tasks as drone director and target towing. A reconnaissance version known as the RT-33A with a camera installed in the nose and additional equipment in the rear cockpit was also produced. Although primarily intended for export, the
U.S. Air Force used a single example of the type for secret overflights of
South Vietnam
South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...
and
Laos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
from 1961, with these flights codenamed FIELD GOAL. This lasted until the aircraft were replaced by the more capable
McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo in this role.
The USAF began phasing the T-33 out of front-line pilot training duties in the
Air Training Command
The Air Training Command (ATC) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command designation. It was headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, but was initially formed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It was re-designated ...
in the early 1960s, as the
Cessna T-37 Tweet and
Northrop T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet Supersonic aircraft, supersonic jet trainer designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation. It was the world's first supersonic trainer as well as the most produced. ...
aircraft began replacing it for the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) program. The T-33 was used to train cadets from the Air Force Academy at Peterson Field (now Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs). The T-37 replaced the T-33 for Academy training in 1975. The final T-33 used in advanced training was replaced 8 February 1967 at
Craig AFB, Alabama. Similar replacement also occurred in the
U.S. Navy with the TV-1 (also renamed T-33 in 1962), as more advanced aircraft such as the
North American T-2 Buckeye and
Douglas TA-4 Skyhawk II came on line. USAF and USN versions of the T-33 soldiered on into the 1970s and 1980s with USAF and USN as utility aircraft and proficiency trainers, with some of the former USN aircraft being expended as full-scale aerial targets for air-to-air missile tests from naval aircraft and surface-to-air missile tests from naval vessels.
Several T-33s were assigned to USAF
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo,
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, and
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
The Convair F-106 Delta Dart is an all-weather interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair.
The F-106 was designed in response to the 1954 interceptor program. Envisioned as an imagined "Ultimate I ...
units, to include similarly equipped
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
units, of the
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was establishe ...
as proficiency trainers and practice "bogey" aircraft. Others later went to
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...
, and TAC gained
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
F-106 and
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American Tandem#Aviation, tandem two-seat, twinjet, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic aircraft, supersonic jet interceptor aircraft, interceptor and fighter-bomber that was developed by ...
units in a similar role until they were finally retired, with the last being an NT-33 variant retired in April 1997.
Military use by other nations
The T-33 has served with over 30 nations and continues to operate as a trainer in smaller
air force
An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...
s.
Canadair
Canadair Ltd. was a Canadian civil and military aircraft manufacturer that operated from 1944 to 1986. In 1986, its assets were acquired by Bombardier Aerospace, the aviation division of Canadian transport conglomerate Bombardier Inc.
Canadai ...
built 656 T-33s on licence for service in the RCAF—
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
as the
CT-133 Silver Star, while
Kawasaki manufactured 210 in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. Other operators included
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, and
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
, which used the T-33 extensively.
Some T-33s retained two machine guns for gunnery training, and in some countries, the T-33 was even used in combat: the
Cuban Air Force used them during the
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (, sometimes called or after the Playa Girón) was a failed military landing operation on the southwestern coast of Cuba in April 1961 by the United States of America and the Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front ...
, scoring several kills including sinking two transport ships.

The
Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force (, sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF) is the Air force, aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The Indonesian Air Force is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is headed by the Chief of Staff of th ...
received 19 unarmed T-33A in 1973 to supplant the
Aero L-29 Delfin trainers. Several aircraft were later rearmed with two machine guns, gunsight taken from scrapped
Il-28 bombers, and bomb racks taken from retired
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served ...
. The rearmed T-33s were deployed to
East Timor
Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and ...
for counter-insurgency strikes in 1976. Indonesian Air Force retired their T-33s in 1980.
The RT-33A version, reconnaissance aircraft produced primarily for use by foreign countries, had a camera installed in the nose and additional equipment in the rear cockpit. T-33s continued to fly as currency trainers, drone towing, combat and tactical simulation training, "hack" aircraft, electronic countermeasures, and warfare training and test platforms right into the 1980s.
In the 1980s, an attempt was made to modify and modernize the T-33 as the
Boeing Skyfox, but a lack of orders led to the project's cancellation. About 70% of the T-33's airframe was retained in the Skyfox, but it was powered by two
Garrett AiResearch TFE731-3A turbofan
A turbofan or fanjet is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used in aircraft engine, aircraft propulsion. The word "turbofan" is a combination of references to the preceding generation engine technology of the turbojet and the add ...
engines.

In the late 1990s, 18 T-33 Mk-III and T-33 SF-SC from the Bolivian Air Force went to Canada to be modernized at Kelowna Flightcraft. New avionics were installed, and detailed inspection and renewal of the fuselage and wings were performed. Most of the aircraft returned in early 2001 and remained operational until the type was officially retired on 31 July 2017.
On 21 June 1996, 1 T-33A-5-LO (trainer TR-602) from the Hellenic Air Force piloted by Squadron Leader Ioannis Kouratzoglou successfully intercepted a Turkish F-16C violating Athens FIR by engaging in low-altitude high-G maneuvers.
Civilian use

A limited number of T-33s have been owned privately, with two used by Boeing as chase aircraft. In 2010, one T-33 owned by Boeing was used as a chase aircraft during the maiden flight of the
Boeing 787
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
After dropping its unconventional Sonic Cruiser project, Boeing announced the conventional 7E7 on January 29, 2003, wh ...
. The maiden flight of the Boeing 737 MAX-7 on 16 March 2018 also featured a T-33 chase plane. The maiden flight of the
Boeing 777-9 on January 25, 2020, also featured a T-33 chase plane, taking off from
KBFI and meeting the 777-9 at
KPAE, it stopped at
KMWH and it took off again to chase the 777-9 on its way back to KBFI, flying around Mount Rainier before their landing. On December 4, 2020, Boeing retired their T-33 Chase Planes after 66 years of service. Both T-33s operated by Boeing were replaced by a single
T-38 Talon. Actor and pilot
Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American actor best known for his role as the Klingon character Worf in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, appearing in all seven seasons of the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987–1 ...
owned a T-33, which he jokingly referred to as his "starship".
Variants
;TP-80C
:Original United States military designation for the Lockheed Model 580 two-seat trainer for the
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
. Designation changed to TF-80C on 11 June 1948 following establishment of the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
as a separate military service in 1947, and then to T-33A on 5 May 1949; 20 built.
;T-33A
:Two-seat jet trainer aircraft for the United States Air Force and delivery to foreign air forces under the
Military Assistance Program, 5871 including 699 diverted to the United States Navy as the TV-2.
;AT-33A
:Conversions of the T-33A for export as a close support variant fitted with underwing pylons and hard points for bombs and rockets. Also used in the original fighter lead-in program at
Cannon AFB, NM approximately 1972-1975.
;DT-33A
:This designation was given to a number of T-33As converted into drone directors.
;NT-33A
:This designation was given to a number of T-33As converted into special test aircraft.
;QT-33A
:This designation was given to number of T-33As converted into aerial target drones for the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
.
;RT-33A
:T-33A modified before delivery as a single-seat reconnaissance variant; 85 built, mainly for export under the
Military Assistance Program.
;T-33B
:Re-designation of the United States Navy TV-2 in 1962.
;DT-33B
:Re-designation of the United States Navy TV-2D drone director in 1962.
;DT-33C
:Re-designation of the United States Navy TV-2KD target in 1962
;TO-1/TV-1
:
U.S. Navy designation of P-80C, 50 transferred to USN in 1949 as jet trainers (not technically T-33 Shooting Star)
;TO-2
:United States Navy designation for 649 T-33As diverted from USAF production. Two-seat land-based jet training aircraft for the U.S. Navy. First 28 were delivered as TO-2s before the Navy changed the designation to TV-2. Surviving United States Navy and
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
aircraft were re-designated T-33B on 18 September 1962.
[Jansen, Clay]
" US Marine Corps Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star."
''Cloud 9 Photography,'' October 1961. Retrieved: 6 August 2013.
;TV-2
:Re-designation of the TO-2 after the first 28 were built.
;TV-2D
:TV-2s modified as drone directors, later re-designated DT-33B.
;TV-2KD
:TV-2s modified as radio-controlled targets, could be flown as a single-seater for ferry, later re-designated DT-33C.
Canada
;Silver Star Mk 1
:Canadian designation for the T-33A, 20 delivered.
;Silver Star Mk 2
:Canadian designation for a T-33A which became the prototype of the Silver Star Mk 3.
;
T-33AN/CT-133 Silver Star Mk 3
:The T-33AN is a
Rolls-Royce Nene
The Rolls-Royce RB.41 Nene is a 1940s British centrifugal compressor turbojet engine. The Nene was a complete redesign, rather than a scaled-up Rolls-Royce Derwent,"Rolls-Royce Aero Engines" Bill Gunston, Patrick Stephens Limited 1989, , p.111 ...
-powered variant of the T-33A for the
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
; 656 built by Canadair with the company designation CL-30. The Canadian military designation was later changed from T-33AN to CT-133.
Other
;L-245
:One Lockheed-owned prototype with a more powerful engine. Was later developed into the
T2V SeaStar.
;Aérospatiale Pégase
:A Canadair T-33AN was modified by Aérospatiale with an S17a 17% thickness wing section.
;
Boeing Skyfox: A comprehensive upgrade and re-engine project, powered by 2
Garrett TFE-731 turbofans. The sole prototype remains parked, without engines, at
Rogue Valley International (MFR) at
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Oregon, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census on April 1, 2020, the city had a total population of 85,824, making it the List of cities in Oregon, eighth-most populo ...
.
;Khodkar
:Iranian conversion of T-33A into drone.
;TF-33A
:
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force (, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Brazilian Brazilian Army Aviation (1919–1941), Army and Brazilian Naval Aviation, Nav ...
designation for the AT-33A.
;B.F.11
:()
Royal Thai Armed Forces
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF; ; ) are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (จอมทัพไทย; ) is the King of Thailand. The armed forces are managed by the Minist ...
designation for the T-33A.
;B.TF.11
:() Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the RT-33A.
Former operators

For operators of Canadian-built aircraft, refer to
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star.
;
*
Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) () is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The air force is primarily responsible for air defence of Bangladesh's sovereign territory as well as providing air support to the Bangladesh Army a ...
(1 × RT-33 operated from 1972. Leftover of
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (; ) is the aerial warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy when re ...
after
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
.)
;
*
Belgian Air Force (38 × T-33A, 1 × RT-33A operated from 1952)
;
*
Bolivian Air Force
The Bolivian Air Force (BAF; or 'FAB') is the air force of Bolivia and branch of the Bolivian Armed Forces.
History
By 1938 the Bolivian air force consisted of about 60 aircraft ( Curtiss Hawk fighters, Curtiss T-32 Condor II and Junkers ...
- Bolivia acquired 15 T-33AN from Canada in 1973–74, purchasing 5 more from Canada in 1977 and 18 T-33SFs from France in 1985.
[Siegrist 1987, p. 175.] 18 were upgraded to T-33-2000 standard in 2000–2001. Retired in 2017.
;
*
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force (, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Brazilian Brazilian Army Aviation (1919–1941), Army and Brazilian Naval Aviation, Nav ...
;
*Burmese Air Force – 15 x AT-33A for use as trainers and
close air support
Close air support (CAS) is defined as aerial warfare actions—often air-to-ground actions such as strafes or airstrikes—by military aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of fire support, CAS requires ...
.
;
*
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
*
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...
** VU-32 Utility Squadron
*
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
*
National Research Council
;
*
Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force () is the air force of Chile and branch of the Chilean military.
History
The first step towards the current FACh is taken by Lieutenant Colonel, Teniente Coronel training as a pilot in France. Although a local academy was c ...
;
*
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force ( Chinese, 中華民國空軍), or the ROCAF; known colloquially as the Taiwanese Air Force ( Chinese, 臺灣空軍) by Western or mainland Chinese media, or commonly referred as the National Military Air Force ...
;
*
Colombian Air Force
The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC, ) is the air force of the Republic of Colombia. The Colombian Aerospace Force is one of the three institutions of the Military Forces of Colombia charged, according to the 1991 Constitution, with working to exe ...
;
*
Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force
;
*
Royal Danish Air Force
The Royal Danish Air Force () (RDAF) is the aerial warfare force of the Kingdom of Denmark and one of the four branches of the Danish Armed Forces. Initially being components of the Army and the Navy, it was made a separate service in 1950. I ...
[Schrøder, Hans (1991). ''Royal Danish Airforce''. Ed. Kay S. Nielsen. Tøjhusmuseet, 1991, p. 1–64. .]
;
*
Dominican Air Force – AT-33A
;
*
Ethiopian Air Force
The Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) () is the air service branch of the Ethiopian National Defence Force. The ETAF is tasked with protecting the national air space, providing support to ground forces, as well as assisting civil operations during wa ...
;
*
Ecuadorian Air Force
The Ecuadorian Air Force (; FAE) is the air branch of the Armed Forces of Ecuador.
Mission
To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional objectives which guarantee sovereignty and contribute towards the nation's security an ...
– AT-33A
;
*
Salvadoran Air Force
;
*
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...
– 163 x T-33A and RT-33A (also 61 Canadian-built T-33AN)
;
*
German Air Force
The German Air Force (, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ) was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War as the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces of West Ger ...
192 x T-33A
;
*
Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF; , sometimes abbreviated as ΠΑ) is the air force of Greece (''Hellenic'' being the endonym for ''Greek'' in the Greek language). It is considered to be one of the largest air forces in NATO, and is globally placed 1 ...
– T-33A, RT-33A, and Canadian-built AT-33ANs
;
*
Guatemalan Air Force
;
*
Honduran Air Force – T-33A and RT-33A
;
*
Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force (, sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF) is the Air force, aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The Indonesian Air Force is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is headed by the Chief of Staff of th ...
– T-33A
;
*
Imperial Iranian Air Force
*
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF; ) is the air force, aviation branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The present air force was created when the Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed in 1979 following the Iranian Revoluti ...
;
*
Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force (; AM, ) is the air force of the Italy, Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, King Victor Emmanuel III as the ("Royal Air Force ...
operated 60 Lockheed T-33A and 14 Lockheed RT-33A from 1952 until 1982
; (all retired)
*
Japan Air Self Defense Force T-33A – assembled and later manufactured by
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Company from 1956.
**
Tactical Fighter Training Group (1981–1992)
**
3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1956–1992)
**
6th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1959–1992)
**
8th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1959–1992)
**
201st Tactical Fighter Squadron (1963–1974, 1986–1994)
**
202nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1964–1992)
**
203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1964–1992)
**
204th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1964–1993)
**
301st Tactical Fighter Squadron (1973–1993)
**
302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1974–1994)
**
303rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1976–1994)
**
304th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1977–1993)
**
305th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1978–1993)
**
306th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1981–1994)
;
*
Royal Libyan Air Force – two T-33As donated by the United States.
;
*
Mexican Air Force
The Mexican Air Force (FAM; ) is the air service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. It is a component of the Mexican Army and as such overseen by the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA). The objective of the FAM is to defend the integrity, in ...
– 50 units AT-33A

;
*
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF; , "Royal Air Force") is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. It was created in 1953 to succeed its predecessor, the ''Luchtvaartafdeling'' () of the Dutch Army, which was founded ...
– 60 × T-33A, 3 × RT-33A
;
*
Nicaraguan Air Force FAN received delivery of four AT-33A aircraft from the US Government after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Retired from service in 1979.
;
*
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) () is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximately 2,430 employees (officers, enlisted ...
;
*
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (; ) is the aerial warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy when re ...
– T-33A, RT-33A
;
*
Paraguayan Air Force operated six AT-33A donated by Taiwan in 1990. The belonged to the Grupo Aerotáctico (GAT) 2nd. Fighter Squadron called "Indios". They were withdrawn from use in 1998.
;
*
Peruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force (, FAP) is the branch of the Peruvian Military of Peru, Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of aerial warfare, air power. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding i ...
operated a total of 27 T-33A delivered between 1955 and 1964, all of them formerly operated by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
. They were withdrawn from use in 1981 after being replaced by the
Aermacchi MB-339. A single T-33A-1-LO, serial 455 (c/n 580-9889) is preserved at Parque del Aire.
;
*
Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) () is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Initially formed as part of the Philippine Army as the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) in 1935, the PAAC eventually saw combat ...
- 7 units T-33A and 3 units RT-33A. 1955 to 1994.
;
*
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force () is the air force, aerial warfare force of Portugal. Locally it is referred to by the acronym FAP but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PRTAF. It is the youngest of the three branches of the Portuguese ...
T-33A and one RT-33A (all retired)
;
*
Royal Saudi Air Force
The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF; ) is the military aviation, aviation branch of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
The Royal Saudi Air Force currently has wings, squadrons, and a special forces unit dedicated to comba ...
;
*
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is the aerial service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for controlling and defending the airspace of the country, and providing air support to the Army and Navy. It was establis ...
: 12 x Former
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...
T-33A delivered in 1980, followed by 8 more in 1982.
;
*
Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF; ), also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean Air Force, is the Air force, aerial and Space force, space warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the Ministry of National Defense (South K ...
: T-33A is First introduction Time: August, 1955. It also served with the ROKAF
Black Eagles aerobatic team
;
*
Spanish Air Force
The Spanish Air and Space Force () is the aerial and space warfare branch of the Spanish Armed Forces.
History
Early stages
Hot air balloons have been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Al ...
– 60 × T-33A
;
*
Royal Thai Air Force
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (; ) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the ...
;
*
Turkish Air Force
The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...
– T-33A and RT-33A
;
*
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) is a division of the Boeing Company. It designs, assembles, markets, and sells commercial aircraft, including the 737, 767, 777, and 787, along with freighter and business jet variants of most. The divis ...
(two Canadair CT-133 Silver Stars, N109X and N416X)
["Aircraft Enquiry: N109X"](_blank)
. FAA Registry. Retrieved: 11 Mar 2012.
*
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
*
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
*
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
;
*
Uruguayan Air Force operated 13 AT-33A-1s from 1956 to 1997.
;
*
Yugoslav Air Force
The Air Force and Air Defence ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана, Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana ; abbr. sh-Cyrl-Latn, label=none, separator=/, РВ и ПВ� ...
– Operated 125 Shooting Stars in four variants: 25 T-33A, 22 RT-33A, 70 TV-2, and 8 TT-33A
Aircraft on display
Numerous T-33s have been preserved as museum and commemorative displays.
Notable accidents and incidents
On January 28, 1951:
WW2 Ace Dominic Salvatore Gentile was killed when he crashed in a T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star trainer, AF Ser. No. 49-0905, in Forestville, Maryland. Gentile was credited with 20 air kills during his combat tours.
;4 August 1955: First Lt. Elmer C. Bybee (of Walden CO) and Second Lt. Conrad J. Zubalik (of Greensburg PA), US Air Force, were flying a T-33 on a training sortie out of Perrin Air Force Base (Sherman TX) when a wing snapped off during a turn. The aircraft crashed near Grapevine Lake Dam north of the Dallas-Ft Worth Airport. Both pilot trainees perished in the crash.
;4 June 1957: Maj.
Teruhiko Kobayashi, a flying ace of the Imperial Japanese Air Force, was flying a T-33 on a training sortie from Hamamatsu when a technical problem occurred just shortly after takeoff. He ordered his companion in the jet with him to eject. After his companion did, he tried to take control of the aircraft and attempted to land it away from any populated areas, but crashed shortly after.
;23 December 1957: 1 US T-33 flown by
Maj Howard J.Curran entered Albanian airspace, alleging that he had interference requiring him to fly in Albanian airspace. He was forced to land on
Rinas Airport by 2 Albanian
MiG-15 flown by Anastas Ngjela and Mahmut Hysa. Major Howard J.Curran was later released but his T-33 was placed in the Gjirokastra castle museum, where it is still today.
;24 March 1958: Lt Col. Jacob E. Manch, a member of the
Doolittle Raiders during
World War 2
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilisin ...
, was killed in a T-33 jet trainer accident outside of Las Vegas, NV. He ordered the second crewmember to bail out and guided his powerless aircraft over a neighborhood, that included an elementary school, avoiding potential casualties on the ground. When he finally ejected, his parachute did not have sufficient time to properly operate, and he died when he hit the ground.
;20 May 1958: An
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
Lockheed T-33A was involved in a mid-air collision with
Capital Airlines Flight 300, a
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount is a retired British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs. A design requirement from the Brabazon Committee, it entered service in 1953 and was the first turboprop-powered airliner.
T ...
, over
Brunswick, Maryland
Brunswick is a city in southwestern Frederick County, Maryland, Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River; Loudoun County, Virginia, Loudoun County, Virginia occupies the opposite shor ...
.
;19 September 1968: A
Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force () is the air force of Chile and branch of the Chilean military.
History
The first step towards the current FACh is taken by Lieutenant Colonel, Teniente Coronel training as a pilot in France. Although a local academy was c ...
T-33A crewed by Sub-lieutenant Jorge Emberg and Second Lieutenant René Catalán crashed shortly after takeoff from El Bosque Air Base due to an engine failure. Emberg managed to eject safely but Catalán and six people on the ground died when the aircraft crashed on the Santa Erna neighborhood.
;20 August 1971: On 20 August 1971, Pilot Officer
Rashid Minhas
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas () was a Pakistani fighter pilot and the fifth recipient of Pakistan's highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider. Minhas was the first and only officer from the Pakistan Air Force to receive the Nishan-e-Haider, ...
was scheduled to fly a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer from
PAF Base Masroor in
Karachi
Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
.
Bir Sreshtho
The Bir Sreshtho (; ), is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered martyrs.
The other three gallantry awards are named, ...
Matiur Rahman, an instructor pilot, saw Minhas about to take off and joined him via the instructor's seat. Rahman then attempted to hijack the T-33 in midair, intending to fly the plane to India, defect, and join the
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
and fight for his motherland. Minhas sent a message to control tower that he has been hijacked before being knocked unconscious. The now alerted Pakistani Air Force scrambled F-86 Sabre jets but were unable to locate the T-33. In the meantime, Rashid regained consciousness and there was a struggle between the two pilots and the plane crashed in Pakistan, 40 kilometers from the Indian border, killing both pilots; the precise cause of the crash is unknown.
Specifications (T-33A)
See also
References
Bibliography
* Baugher, Joe
"Lockheed P-80/F-80."''USAF Fighters''. Retrieved: 11 June 2011.
*
*
* Davis, Larry. ''P-80 Shooting Star. T-33/F-94 in action.'' Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1980. .
* Dorr, Robert F. "P-80 Shooting Star Variants". ''Wings of Fame'' Vol. 11. London: Aerospace Publishing Ltd., 1998. .
* Francillon, René J. ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. London: Putnam, 1982. .
* "Fuerza Aérea Boliviana". ''International Air Power Review''. Volume 1, Summer 2001. pp. 28–31. .
*
*
* Hiltermann, Gijs. ''Lockheed T-33'' (Vliegend in Nederland 3) (in Dutch). Eindhoven, Netherlands: ''Flash Aviation'', 1988. .
* Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces 2015". ''
Flight International
''Flight International'', formerly ''Flight'', is a monthly magazine focused on aerospace. Published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1909 as "A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport", i ...
'', 8–14 December 2015, Vol. 188, No. 5517. pp. 26–53. .
* Pace, Steve. ''Lockheed Skunk Works''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1992. .
* Pocock, Chris. "Singapore Sting". ''Air International'', Vol. 31, No. 2. pp. 59–64, 90–92.
* Siegrist, Martin. "Bolivian Air Power — Seventy Years On". ''
Air International
''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd.
History and profile
The magazine was fir ...
'', Vol. 33, No. 4, October 1987. pp. 170–176, 194. .
External links
T-33 in Mexican Air ForcePictures of the T-33 at Oak Meadow Park, (Los Gatos, CA)Brief T-33 History on Air Mobility Command Museum Site with photo of display T-33 at Dover AFB, DE
{{Authority control
T-33
1940s United States military trainer aircraft
Single-engined jet aircraft
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1948
Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear