The J33 was originally developed by General Electric as a follow-on to their work with the designs of Frank Whittle during World War II.

Full production started as the J31 when the United States Army Air Forces introduced common naming for all their engine projects.

Lockheed was in the midst of the XP-80 project at the time, originally intending to power their design with a US-produced version of the Halford H-1 of about 3,000 lbf (13 kN).

Allison, working largely from government-owned wartime factories, could produce the engine in quantity more quickly and cheaply.

In 1958, surplus J33s were used in jet donkeys pushing dead loads at 200 knots to test aircraft carrier arresting gear cables and tailhooks at Lakehurst.