|
Marine Night Fighter Squadron 543 (VMF(N)-543)
|
Established as Marine Night Fighter Squadron 543 (VMF(N)-543) “Night Hawks” on 15 Apr 1944. Deactivated on 11 Apr 1946.
WW-II. The squadron was separated into 3 echelons. The assault echelon departed HI on 22 Feb 1945 on board the USS Achernar (AKA-53) and USS Meriwether (APA-203) towards Eniwetok, Ulithi, Palau, and Leyte, landing on Okinawa early 7 Apr. The flight echelon arrived on Okinawa 9 Apr and the rear echelon caught up with the squadron on 1 May 1945. During the Battle of Okinawa the squadron was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33) and flew from Kadena Airfield from 9 Apr-7 Aug.
Credited with shooting down 15 Japanese aircraft and 1 probable.
Grumman F6F Hellcat, 1944-1946
|
|