T-33A Jet Trainer - Sweetwater, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 32° 29.048 W 100° 24.618
14S E 367488 N 3594976
Behind a fence in Newman Park.
Waymark Code: WM10B0Y
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/04/2019
Views: 2
Excerpts from Abilene Reporter-News 03 May 1975"Ten maintenance technicians renovated a T-33 jet trainer at Sweetwater's Newman Park. The personnel from various squadrons of the 98th Bomb Wing took two days to complete the refurbishing project.
Included were structural repair, painting, polishing and general clean up
What they accomplished was the "rebirth" of the former Korean conflict-era bomber.
The T-33 was procured by the Sweetwater Jaycees about 10 years ago. It was intended s a memorial to Sweetwater citizens who had served their country in the armed forces.
The aircraft was scratched, dented, and had peeling paint. Somebody had used it for target practice and several bullet holes were in the fuselage.
The canopy was also damaged but has been replaced with a new canopy."
Wikipedia
"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 used the T-33 as a land-based trainer starting in 1949.
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. The U.S. Air Force began phasing the T-33 out of front line pilot training duties in the Air Training Command in the early 1960s"
War Birds Resource Group
"T-33A-1-LO s/n 51-4380
*1953: USAF 3615th PTW
*Currently preserved in Newman City Park, Sweetwater, TX"