64 | FLIGHTPATH
T
he Navy operated the F4U-5N Corsair
(and the NL-variant) almost exclusive-
ly for close air support and interdic-
tion strikes. The Corsair’s primary
function was night defence of the task force
and, since as no real aerial threat to U.S.
surface forces eventuated, they were often
released to attack ground targets inside Ko-
rea during daylight hours. A number of
former W.W.II US Navy night fighter pilots
served in Korea including Cmdr. Chick
Harmer, skipper of VC-3 and Lt. Cmdr. Bill
Henry, the highest scoring American night
fighter ace of W.W.II, in charge of the squad-
ron’s Detachment C.
VC-3 lost seven pilots in Korea including
Lt. Robert Humphrey, another W.W.II night
ace, killed in action while flying an F4U-5N
for Detachment E aboard USS Princeton
(CVL 23). Conducting night operations at
sea during a Korean winter typically mir-
rored those of land-based units stationed in
either Korea or Japan during the conflict;
that of operating in extreme cold, often
Night Corsairs
Following Alan C Carey’s feature on the US Navy’s secret pioneering night fighter
operations in W.W.II in the previous issue, here we present a short extract from his
new book Night Cats & Corsairs, recounting the initial events of the first Corsair night
fighter units in the Korean War.
Part 2
Ensign F. E. Blum attached to VC-3 based on USS Boxer CVA-21 piloting his F4U-5NL named ‘Vibrating
Virgin’ in 1953. Here again, typical of night fighters in Korea, a light coat of paint has been applied
to the squadron code, designator, and “Navy” title. [Emil Buehler Library, NMNA]NP-5 of VC-3 being transferred from the
deck of Philippine Sea after a tour of
flying interdiction missions over Korea.
[Robert A. Rice via Nicholas A. Veronico]