Warren E Thompson describes the exploits of US Marines nocturnal predators over Korea
KOREAN WAR US MARINE CORPS
Befitting its image, the US Marine Corps was involved in the Korean War from its outbreak. In terms of the air component, the Vought F4U-5N Corsair was the initial night-fighter deployed. This was the first of three types, followed by the Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat and the Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight. By early August 1950 the Corsairs of VMF(N)-513 (fixed-wing Marine night-fighter squadron 513), part of Marine Air Group 33 (MAG-33) had started operations. The unit had crossed the Pacific on the escort carrier USS Sitkoh Bay and was immediately assigned to Fifth Air Force control, temporarily based at Itazuke, Japan.
The Corsairs set to work south of the 38th Parallel, the border between North and South Korea, mostly going after enemy troops pushing towards Pusan. There were lots of targets as the North Koreans had started to use the roads at night due to pressure being put on the them by Douglas B-26 Invaders during daylight hours.
Twin-engined F7F-3Ns of VMF(N)-542 soon arrived to complement the Corsairs. Two dozen Tigercats were loaded on the USS Cape Esperance and …
