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P-59A
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The Bell P-59A Airacomet, the first U.S. jet fighter.
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P-59A

aircraft
Also known as: Airacomet, Bell P-59A Airacomet
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The Bell P-59A Airacomet, the first U.S. jet fighter.
The Bell P-59A Airacomet, the first U.S. jet fighter.

The Bell P-59A Airacomet was the first U.S. jet aircraft, designed by Lawrence Dale Bell. It was powered by two British Whittle engines and made its initial flight on October 1, 1942. However, the P-59A lacked the necessary performance for combat and was not used in World War II. The first operational U.S. jet fighter was the Lockheed P-80A, which arrived too late for combat in World War II but proved valuable in the Korean War.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. history of flight - World War II
  2. Lawrence Dale Bell

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