F4U-2(N) Corsair – The US Navy’s Night Fighter

F4U-2 Corsair: The Night Fighter of the US Navy
History

In 1941, even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Navy expressed interest in creating a night version of the famous Corsair. The radars of the then night fighters in World War II were usually bulky and heavy to be installed in single-seat fighters. However, the development of smaller and lighter radars paved the way for the creation of a fighter that could provide night cover and protection.

Vought, the manufacturer of the F4U, was overloaded with other orders, and the conversion of the F4U-1s into night fighters was assigned to the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia. A total of 34 aircraft were converted there, of which the two from VMF(N)-532 were the only ones to have come from the F4U-1A version.

The AIA radar, developed at MIT as part of the Roger Program, had a range of 6 km and, to make it suitable for single-seat fighters, a small round display was installed on the instrument panel, where the pilot received signals of direction, distance and altitude of the target.

The placement of the radar on the right wingtip and the addition of systems such as a radio altimeter, autopilot, and flame arresters on the exports led to changes that included the removal of a machine gun to save weight.

Operations
The first operations of VF(N)-75 in 1943 encountered several operational and tactical difficulties, but on 1 November 1943 Captain O’Neill shot down the first Japanese bomber, signaling the effectiveness of the F4U-2. The tactic involved flying the fighter above and behind the target to reduce the chance of evasion.

VF(N)-101, the first night fighter squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier, began operations in 1944, although with a limited number of sorties due to the dangers of night landings. For this reason, the US Navy turned to the F6F Hellcat, which had better landing characteristics for night operations.

 F4U-2 Corsair Night Fighter VF(N)-75 – U.S. Navy

• Commissioned: April 1, 1943

• Area of Operations: New Georgia, South Pacific

• Notable Action: On November 1, 1943, Lt. O’Neill shot down a Japanese G4M “Betty” bomber during a night mission – the first successful night kill by a Corsair.

• Base: Munda Airfield, New Georgia

• Carrier Operations: None – operated from land bases.

 F4U-2 Corsair Night Fighter VF(N)-101 – U.S. Navy

• Formed from: Elements of VF(N)-75

• Operational Start: January 1944

• Area of Operations: Central Pacific

• Carriers:

  • USS Enterprise (CV-6)

  • USS Essex (CV-9)

• Special Characteristics:

  • Repainted fuselage sides in very dark, nearly black Sea Blue for better nighttime concealment.

  • Conducted experimental night missions to test the Corsair’s suitability for carrier night operations.

 F4U-2 Corsair Night Fighter VMF(N)-532 – U.S. Marine Corps

• Commander: Major Everette H. Vaughn

• Area of Operations: Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

• Mission Profile:

  • Nighttime interceptions of Japanese aircraft

  • Night bombing and ground attack missions

• Special Note:

  • The unit field-modified two F4U-1A Corsairs into F4U-2A configuration – the only two of this type.

Key Features
Removed armored glass in the cabin to improve visibility.

Simplified antenna system (VHF, IFF, radio altimeter).

Added additional armor (like part E23 in the Tamiya kit).

Raised tail wheel tip for better visibility to the pilot.

Fuel tank leak problem addressed with improvised repairs.

Paint and Appearance
The F4U-2’s paint scheme included a combination of Non Spec Sea Blue, Semi-Gloss Sea Blue, and Intermediate Blue. There was disagreement as to whether the sides of the aircraft were painted black or a dark shade of blue, with most evidence supporting that they were dark blue rather than black. The darkness aided in concealment during night operations, while the glossy surface provided better resistance to wear and fading in the sun.

The photographs also show details such as the absence of heat-resistant glass in the canopy, for better nighttime visibility, as well as modifications to the radar equipment and antennas.

Paint Scheme – 4-Tone Navy BuAer Scheme

The official paint scheme of the F4U-2 Corsair follows a 4-tone graded pattern with soft color transitions, designed to provide effective camouflage while maintaining the aircraft’s distinctive look.

Notes:

• The paint exhibits natural feathering to avoid harsh, visible demarcation lines between tones.

• Units such as VF(N)-101 often repainted the fuselage sides in a darker, nearly black Sea Blue to improve night camouflage coverage.

• The aircraft’s underside is almost always painted Insignia White for contrast and visibility control.

• Additional details like flame arresters on exhaust stacks and specialized radar components further enhance the aircraft’s authentic appearance.

Paint Scheme
Photographs are rare and mostly in black and white, taken from aircraft carriers.

The main scheme follows the US Navy’s 4-tone graded scheme:

Semi-gloss Sea Blue on the upper sections and much of the fuselage.

Non-Spec Sea Blue on the side sections.

Intermediate Blue limited to the forward fuselage and engine.

Insignia White under the wings and on the lower fuselage.

On VF(N)-101, black paint was applied over the Intermediate Blue for better nighttime concealment.

The color differentiation between the sides and the back of the fuselage is evident, with the possible use of fresh batches of paint that have not “faded”.

Bibliography
Bell, Dana. Corsair at War. Schiffer Publishing, 1995.

Forgotten Hobby. BuAer Corsair Painting Tech Order. Available at: forgottenhobby.files.wordpress.com

Tailhook Topics. F4U-2 Color Scheme. Available at: tailhooktopics.blogspot.com

Warbird Information Exchange. F4U-2 Discussion Thread. Available at: warbirdinformationexchange.org

My Forgotten Hobby. Vought Corsair. Available at: myforgottenhobby.wordpress.com

Britmodeller.com, Aircraft WWII – Photos and Discussions of F4U-2 Corsair Night Fighter.

Recommended Kits & Upgrades for F4U-2N Corsair
1. Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1 Corsair

Base for conversion to F4U-2N with addition of radar and accessories.

Ideal for detailed upgrades and custom painting.

2. Hobby Boss 1/48 F4U-1A Corsair

Good detail and price, quite popular for upgrades and conversions.

Combines well with aftermarket sets.

3. Eduard PE sets & Conversion sets

Photo-etched (PE) details for cockpit, radar and exterior enhancements.

There are special upgrades for the night fighter version (F4U-2).

4. Aires / Brengun Resin Conversion Sets

Sets for conversion of specific parts, such as radar, folding parts, radar cover.

Very useful for achieving a faithful representation of the F4U-2N.

5. Magic Factory

Excellent resin sets and aftermarket accessories for Corsair, such as cockpit details, radar, equipment and other small elements.

High quality and detail, ideal for those who want that little something extra in their model.

6. Aftermarket Decals

Sky Decals, Techmod and others have decals for the units VMF(N)-532, VF(N)-101 etc.

There are also special night patterns with black gradations.

P-51D Mustang at Iwo Jima – The colors and insignia of the 45th, 47th & 78th Fighter Squadrons of the 15th Fighter Group