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Marine Night Fighter Squadron 544 (VMF(N)-544) was a
night fighter
A night fighter (also known as all-weather fighter or all-weather interceptor for a period of time after the Second World War) is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility. Night fighters began to be used i ...
squadron of the United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
that was commissioned during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. The squadron flew the F6F-5N Hellcat and although it trained for over a year it never made it into combat. The squadron was decommissioned April 20, 1946. To date, no other Marine Corps squadron has carried the lineage and honors of VMF(N)-544.
History
Marine Night Fighter Squadron 544 (VMF(N)-544) was commissioned on May 1, 1944 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
. The squadron immediately began training for aerial combat at night and in poor weather and low visibility. The squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
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* Marine pollution
Military
...
, California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
in early November 1944, where it continued training for two more months.
In February 1945, VMF(N)-544 again moved, this time to Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake
Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake (MCAS Eagle Mountain Lake) was a United States Marine Corps air station that was located northwest of Fort Worth, Texas during World War II. Commissioned on December 1, 1942, the air station was ori ...
near Fort Worth, Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
. While there, squadron pilots trained with the veteran night aviators from VMF(N)-531 and VMF(N)-534 who had just returned from combat in the South Pacific. VMF(N)-544 never saw combat action as the war with Japan ended before they were due to rotate.
The squadron was decommissioned on April 20, 1946, and has remained inactive since.
See also
*United States Marine Corps Aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation (USMCA) is the aircraft arm of the United States Marine Corps. Aviation units within the Marine Corps are assigned to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, as the aviation combat element, by providing si ...
*List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
This is a list of all of the active squadrons that exist in the United States Marine Corps, sorted by type. Most squadrons have changed names and designations many times over the years, so they are listed by their current designation.
:''To see ...
*List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
While other nations have Marines who are aviators, only the United States Marine Corps has its own dedicated aviation arm. Most squadrons have changed names and designations many times over the years so they are listed by their final designation.
...
Citations
References
;Bibliography * * * ;Web {{DEFAULTSORT:Vmf(N)-544 N Inactive units of the United States Marine Corps