Oh, gosh, USN night fighters, where to start . . .
Well, first of all, there were 8 "pure" VF(N) squadrons that saw action in the Pacific Theater. Night fighter divisions from at least 13 regular "day" squadrons also contributed to the night action totals as did TBMs from VT(N)-90.
VF(N)-75 entered combat on 31 October 1943, operating F4U-2s from land bases in the Solomon Islands. First score went to Lt Hugh D O'Neill, Jr. who, at about 2300 was credited with shooting down a G4M (Betty) approximately 12 miles southeast of the Shortland Islands. Last score was scored at 0415, 13 January 1944 by Lt Reuben L Johns; a D3A (Val) about 35 miles west-southwest of Torokina. Final tally for VF(N)-75 was 7-2-0.
VF(N)-101 operated F4U-2s off USS Enterprise. The squadron's first engagement was on 19 February 1944 at 0600. Squadron CO Lt Cdr Richard E Harmer was credited with damaging a G4M (Betty) at 240 degrees, 30 miles from 9-34N, 160-5E, which is about 125 miles northeast of Pohnpei, in the Carolines. Last engagement for VF(N)-101 was on 28 June 1944 when Harmer encountered another G4M and was credited with shooting it down. Total score for VF(N)-101 was 5-1-3. The entire squadron score was split between Harmer and Lt(jg) R F Holden; Harmer with 2-0-1 and Holden with 3-1-2.
VF(N)-76, under Lt Cdr Evan Peter Aurand, operating a combination or F6F-3N, F6F-3E, and F6F-5N operated in detachments off USS Essex, USS Yorktown, USS , USS Hornet, USS Lexington, and USS Bunker Hill. The squadron entered combat on 22 February 1944 when "Sweet Pete" Aurand was credited with an A6M between 0645 and 0800 while on patrol between Tinian and Saipan. Last combat for VF(N)-76 was at 0630 on 22 September 1944 when Lt(jg) John W Dear, Jr. was credited with shooting down a B6N1 (Jill) southeast of Cape San Ildefenso, Luzon, PI. Final scores for the squadron were 36-2-0.
VF(N)-77, flying a combination or F6F-3N and F6F-3E operated in detachments off USS Essex, USS Yorktown, USS , USS Hornet, USS Franklin, and USS Ticonderoga. The squadron entered combat on 20 June 1944 when Ens George L Tarleton was credited with an D3A (Val) at 0350 while on patrol Agana airfield, Guam. Last combat for VF(N)-77 was at 0330 on 1 September 1944 when Lt Anthony C Benjes, Jr. shot down an H8K (Emily) flying boat at 330 degrees, 40 miles from 23-48N, 142-49E, or about 80 miles east-southeast of the Bonin Islands. Final score for VF(N)-77 was 8-0-0.
VF(N)-78 operated in two detachments, one, Det. 1, aboard USS Intrepid, and the other, Det. 2 aboard USS Enterprise. The squadron flew F6F-3N and F6F-3E. All scores were made by Det. 2. First action was when the squadron CO, Lt Cdr James S Gray, was credited with damaging a G4M (Betty) at 0230 on 31 August 1944 about 90 miles east of Iwo Jima. Last engagement was on 22 September 1944 when, between 0615 and 0925, Lt William B Thompson and Lt William H B Miller teamed up to shoot down an A6M (Zeke) about 80 miles east of Baler, Luszon, PI. Totals for VF(N)-78 were 2-0-2.
VF(N)-41 entered combat on 12 September 1944 operating F6F-5Ns off USS Independence. First score was split between Ens George W Obenour and Ens Robert W Klock who were each credited with 0.5 G4M (Betty). This engagement occurred at 0755 near 14-25N, 128-40E, which is roughly 200 miles northeast of Leyte, PI. Last score reported for VF(N)-41 was at 1845 on 16 January 1945 when Lt William E Henry was credited with shooting down a Ki-43 (Oscar) about 20 miles southwest of Canton, China. Total score for VF(N)-41 was 46-3-3.
VF(N)-90 operating F6F-5Ns off USS Enterprise had its first action at 1700 on 6 January 1945 when Lt Carl S Neilsen was credited with shooting down a Ki-46 (Dinah) near Alimamao, Luzon, PI. Last action was 14 May 1945 at 0100 when Lt(jg) Charles H Latrobe was credited with a G4M (Betty) near 310 degrees, 24 miles from 30-10N,132-53E, or roughly 100 miles east of Tanega-Shima, south of Kyushu. Final Score for VF(N)-90 was 31-2-0.
VF(N)-91 was the fighter component of an all night air group assigned to USS Bonhomme Richard in the waning days of the war. The squadron operated F6F-5Ns. First action was at 1830 on 25 July 1945 when Ens Kenneth J Baldwin was credited with shooting down a K5Y1 (Willow) trainer near Saiki, Kyushu. Last action was 13 August 1945 at 1915 when Ens Phillip T McDonald was credited with a Ki-45 (Nick) over one of the task Force "watchdog" radar pickets, west of Mito. McDonald was the squadron high scorer, credited with two Ki-45 and two P1Y (Frances), all on the night of 13 August. Final Score for VF(N)-91 was 9-2-0.
Among, but probably not inclusive as I never give it much thought, regular day squadrons with night fighter divisions scoring were: VF-6, VF-9, VF-10, VF-12, VF-14, VF-15, VF-17, VF-20, VF-33, VF-82, VF-83, VF-84, and VF-85. As near as I can tell scores were all in F6F-5Ns and totaled, for just this lot, 56-1-3 of various stripes.
VT(N)-90, also operating off USS Enterprise in TBM-3Es also accounted for 4-1-0. Confirmed as shot down were an H8K (Emily), an L2D (Tabby), and an A6M2-N (Rufe), and an unidentified aircraft. The lone probable was an N1K (George).
Regards,
Rich