ROKAF F4U-5N Corsair

[comrade harps]

Vought F4U-5N Corsair
Night Flight, 3nd Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing
Gwangju, Republic of Korea
April 1953



When the ROKAF was established in mid-1946, it was the USAAF that took responsibility for training and equipment, but the South Korea's leadership distrusted them due to several regrettable incidents involving Korean civilians and USAAF personnel. An additional concern was that the USAAF wanted to supply the South Koreans with P-51D fighter-bombers, whereas the fledgling ROKAF leadership preferred the F4U Corsair (which was still in production). Some sources suggest that his preference may also have been influenced by the then Second Lieutenant (later Major) Kurt Chew-Een Lee, USMC, who served in South Korea as a translator and was highly regarded in Seoul political circles.



The early 1947 decision to acquire Corsairs effectively meant a transference of American responsibility for the ROKAF to the USN and Marine Corps. Second-hand F4U-4 Corsairs were initially supplied, but later new F4U-5s and AU-1s were sent, with small numbers of the radar-equipped F4U-5N and AU-1Ns following.



During the winter of 1952-53, the USN trained several ROKAF pilots and technicians in the art of flying and maintaining the F4U-5N. This took place in California and in April the Night Flight of 3 Squadron stood-up at Gwangju, flying ground attack and interception missions. Little is publicly known about the unit's activities and some writers have questioned its combat readiness and speculated that the unit was little more than a training and propaganda exercise. However, two confirmed air-to-air kills were attributed to the Night Flight during July, 1953.



The F4U-5N remained in the inventory of the ROKAF until retired in 1956.

[kerick]

Nice job and very plausable story!

[rickshaw]

Nice!  Like ROKAF markings a lot.   

[Father Ennis]

Great build and so good to see one in something different.

[Dizzyfugu]

This is... interesting. Looks great, I expected something else - but the dark blue night fighter looks very good with the ROKAF markings. Me likey! 

[NARSES2]

Now that is nice