page_title: VFAW-3
section_title: Korean War
hierarchical_section_title: VFAW-3 / History / First Squadron designated VF(AW)-3 / Korean War
caption_attribution_description: English: Two U.S. Navy Vought F4U-5N Corsair night fighters of Composite Squadron 3 (VC-3) Det. F "Blue Nemesis" fly past the aircraft carrier USS Boxer (CV-21), during combat operations off Korea on 4 September 1951. The planes are BuNos 124537 (left) and 124539, which were flown by Lt. John D. Ely, USNR, and Lt(JG) J.G. Stranlund, USNR. VC-3 Det. F was assigned to Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101) aboard the Boxer for a deployment to Korea from 2 March to 24 October 1951.
context_page_description: All Weather Fighter Squadron 3 was a designation which was used by two separate U.S. Navy aviation squadrons. The first squadron to use the designation was established as Composite Squadron THREE on 20 May 1943, was redesignated All Weather Fighter Squadron THREE on 1 July 1956 and was disestablished on 2 May 1958. The second squadron to use the designation was established as "Navy Air Training Unit-Pacific" on 22 May 1944, was redesignated "Night Development Squadron Pacific" on 6 April 1946, then "Fighter All Weather Training Unit Pacific" on 1 September 1948 and finally, on the same day as the first squadron designated VF-3 was disestablished, 2 May 1958, was redesignated "All Weather Fighter Squadron THREE
context_section_description: Composite Squadron 3 (VC-3) Blue Nemesis was established on 20 May 1949. VC-3 provided night fighter detachments aboard the aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet, flying the F4U-5N Corsair. Its aircraft were heavily engaged in the Korean War, and Lt. Guy Bordelon of VC-3 became the only U.S. Navy "ace" during the war, after shooting down his fifth enemy plane on 16 July 1953, while detached ashore from the USS Princeton (CVA-37). After the war, the F2H-3 Banshee replaced the Corsair.
caption: F4U-5N night fighters of VC-3 over USS Boxer (CV-21) during the Korean War.
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