Vought F4U-5N Corsair BuNo. 123184 "WF 20", Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513 "Flying Nightmares", 1st Marine Air Wing, Pusan West (K-1) Air Base, Korea Ca. 1950

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Between World War II and the Korean War, VMF-513 operated from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. Transitioning to the F4U-5N, the squadron was re-designated Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513 or VMF(N)-513. In August 1950, the squadron deployed to Japan under operational control of the U.S. 5th Air Force.

The squadron nickname "Flying Nightmares" was coined by then Commanding Officer, Lt.Col. James R. Anderson, USMC, in March 1951 because he thought it most appropriately described his outfit. At this time the squadron, with its 15 Grumman F7F Tigercats and 15 Vought F4U-5N Corsairs, were flying out of Pusan West (K-1) Air Base and providing the sole night fighter air defense and interdiction support to all UN forces. In this month alone, the squadron flew 2,086 hours in 604 night combat sorties, inflicting severe damage on the Chinese Forces tactical and logistical units.

Corsair night fighters were used to an extent. The enemy adopted the tactic of using low-and-slow intruders to perform night harassment strikes on UN forces, and jet-powered night fighters found catching these "Bedcheck Charlies" troublesome. US Navy and Marine F4U-5Ns were posted to shore bases to hunt them down. More generally, the Corsairs performed attacks with cannon, napalm tanks, various iron bombs, and unguided rockets. The old HVAR was a reliable standby - though since sturdy Soviet-built armor proved resistant to the HVAR's punch, a new 16.5-centimeter (6.5 inch) hollow-charge antitank warhead was developed for the HVAR, with the result named the "Anti-Tank Aircraft Rocket (ATAR)". The big Tiny Tim rocket was also used in combat.

During the summer of 1952, VMF(N)-513 received the Douglas F3D Skyknight, the squadron's first jet aircraft. Due to losses being incurred by B-29 Superfortresses on nighttime raids over North Korea, 1st MAW was asked to assign their night fighter squadron to escort the aircraft. On the early morning of November 3, 1952, VMF(N)-513 made aviation history with the first radar kill on an enemy jet aircraft at night, when Maj. William T. Stratton Jr., and MSgt. Hans Hoglind shot down a North Korean Yak-15. The squadron was credited with 10 confirmed night kills during the Korean War.

Long overdue commission for  rabbi-tom