Douglas F3D Skyknight (1949-1953): The Douglas F3D Skyknight was the U.S. Navy’s first jet fighter to be strictly dedicated for night interception missions. The twin-engine, two-place F3D made its first flight on March 23, 1949. No small airplane (called “Willy the Whale” by its pilots), the F3D carried a half ton of radar and electronics in its nose section. This capability permitted searching out distant targets in all kinds of weather, day or night. Because of its night fighting capabilities the plane’s official name was often misspelled “Skynight.” The F3D served with both Navy and Marine Corps squadrons during the Korean War. In 1952 it became the first American aircraft to score a jet-to-jet aerial victory at night. Douglas produced 268 F3Ds during the aircraft’s five-year production run. The last Skyknight was retired from active service in 1970.