Maverickson
Well-Known Member
I recently came across a very unusual squadron patch that I almost passed up. It is like no other USN squadron patch that I have ever seen. Because the patch is so unique and in light of the squadron's war time history I thought that it was worthy of posting this VC-4 Nightcappers patch for those that might be interested.
As it goes the squadron flew F4U-5N or the night fighter version of the F4U Corsair. The VC-4 dets made 3 Korean War cruises on Leyte 1950-51, Bonnie Dick 1952-53 and Lake Champlain in 1953. The Nightcappers were the last squadron to use the F4U Corsair as an operational aircraft after retiring them in 1955.
I found a similar Corsair as seen with the same radar dome attached to the starboard wing tip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iHxj--4lIU which would have been characteristic of the Nightcappers night fighter. I intend on looking deeper into the success of the squadron's night time Korean War era activities. So far I am aware that the squadron may have actually produced at least one night fighter ace during the conflict.
As seen, although the following Nightcappers patch is an artists rendition so far I have come up with two versions of the patch. The one seen above is the early or true Korean War version.
As it goes the squadron flew F4U-5N or the night fighter version of the F4U Corsair. The VC-4 dets made 3 Korean War cruises on Leyte 1950-51, Bonnie Dick 1952-53 and Lake Champlain in 1953. The Nightcappers were the last squadron to use the F4U Corsair as an operational aircraft after retiring them in 1955.
I found a similar Corsair as seen with the same radar dome attached to the starboard wing tip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iHxj--4lIU which would have been characteristic of the Nightcappers night fighter. I intend on looking deeper into the success of the squadron's night time Korean War era activities. So far I am aware that the squadron may have actually produced at least one night fighter ace during the conflict.
As seen, although the following Nightcappers patch is an artists rendition so far I have come up with two versions of the patch. The one seen above is the early or true Korean War version.
