Officially Licensed USMC VMFA-513 Nightmares Leather patch

Officially Licensed USMC VMFA-513 Nightmares Leather Patch — The Night Fighters Who Have Been Delivering Bad Dreams Since Korea

When the sun goes down, the Nightmares come out. They've been operating in the dark since 1944.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 513 (VMFA-513) — the 'Nightmares' — has a history rooted in night fighting and all-weather attack that stretches back to World War II. The squadron was originally activated in 1944 as a Marine night fighter squadron, equipped to engage enemy aircraft in conditions where conventional fighters couldn't operate. The Nightmares truly made their mark during the Korean War, where they flew the F4U-5N and F3D Skyknight — the Marine Corps' first purpose-built jet night fighter — in night interdiction, close air support, and escort missions against enemy aircraft and ground targets. The F3D Skyknight was one of the most successful night fighters of the Korean War, and VMF(N)-513 crews used it to shoot down multiple enemy aircraft in nighttime engagements, protecting B-29 bombers from MiG-15 interceptors that tried to attack under cover of darkness. After Korea, the squadron continued to evolve through multiple aircraft transitions and mission changes, maintaining the night-fighting and all-weather attack traditions that defined its identity. The 'Nightmares' nickname and the squadron's dark, aggressive insignia reflect a unit that has always specialized in the most challenging operating conditions — darkness, bad weather, and low visibility. The Nightmares represent a proud lineage in Marine Corps aviation history: the idea that the fight doesn't stop when the sun goes down, and that there are Marine squadrons specifically built to dominate the night. This leather patch carries that legacy forward.

Perfect For: VMFA-513 Nightmares Marines past and present, Korean War Marine aviation veterans, night fighter and all-weather attack community members, and anyone who proudly wears the Nightmares insignia.