Rob van Lijf (born in Helmond, the Netherlands) developed a passion for military aviation at a young age, after his father took him to an airshow. From that moment on, he was hooked. He has always had a particular interest in American aircraft, an interest that deepened after purchasing the book “United States Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909” by John M. Andrade.
For many years, he worked as a quiet, behind-the-scenes researcher, but he is very pleased to have finally collaborated on this book with his longtime friend, Dan Hagedorn. Beyond the F-80s and T-33s, he developed a strong interest in aircraft of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps—especially those produced by Grumman, Sikorsky, and Vought/LTV—following visits to their archives. He hopes to publish books on these subjects in the future
