VMA - 543 Marine Attack Squadron 543 ( VMA - 543 ) was an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps . The squadron , also known as the “ Night Hawks ” , were part of the Marine Forces Reserve and were based at Naval Air Station Glenview , Illinois until their deactivation on April 1 , 1974 . Originally activated during World War II , they fought in the Battle of Okinawa as part of the Tactical Air Force . The squadron was credited with downing 15 Japanese aircraft during the war . Following the surrender of Japan , the squadron was deactivated only to be later reactivated as part of the Reserves . They were again deactivated in 1974 and remain in an inactive status today . History . World War II . VMF ( N ) - 543 was commissioned on April 15 , 1944 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina . On July 2 , 1943 the squadron commanding officer , Major Claude Carlson was killed when he developed hypoxia at high altitude in his F6F Hellcat due to a defective regulator . The Night hawks continued to train there through the summer until they moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro , California on September 30 , 1944 . More training ensued until they departed for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa , Hawaii in January 1945 . From MCAS Ewa the squadron was separated into 3 echelons . The assault echelon departed Hawaii on February 22 on board the USS Achernar ( AKA - 53 ) and USS Meriwether ( APA - 203 ) . They steamed westward via Eniwetok , Ulithi , Palau , and Leyte , landing on Okinawa early April 7 . The flight echelon arrived on Okinawa April 9 and the rear echelon caught up with the squadron on May 1 , 1945 . The squadron took its first casualties when 5 squadron Marines were injured when their transport ship " USS Achernar " was hit by a kamikaze . Twenty members of the squadron received commendations for their actions to help put out the fire on board the ship that ensued . During the Battle of Okinawa the squadron was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 33 ( MAG - 33 ) and flew from Kadena Airfield They began flying tactical mission on April 9 and continued through August 7 . At first the Marine night fighters were not that effective against the nightly Japanese bombing raids . The network of " Air Warning Squadrons " , which would provide ground - controlled intercept around the island , was still being emplaced , there were many issues with sensitive electronics gear , radio interference was rampant and even friendly anti - aircraft fire was a problem . By mid - May though , the problems had been worked through , and for the remainder of the campaign night fighters were extremely effective against the enemy . During the battle the squadron was also tasked with flying night heckling missions which consisted of strafing enemy positions though these missions effects were limited at best . During their time on Okinawa the Night Hawks were credited with shooting down 15 Japanese aircraft and 1 probable . Following the Battle of Okinawa the squadron moved to Awase Airfield where they would remain until the surrender of Japan . VMF ( N ) - 543 would return to the states in January 1946 and be based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California . On April 11 , 1946 , as part of the post - war drawdown of forces , the squadron was deactivated . Reserve years . After the war the squadron was reactivated as Marine Fighting Squadron 543 ( VMF - 543 ) , a standard day fighter squadron at Naval Air Station Glenview , Illinois . The squadron was later designated Marine Attack Squadron 543 ( VMA - 543 ) but was deactivated on April 1 , 1974 as part of the post - Vietnam War reduction in forces . Unit awards . A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited . Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation . VMA - 543 was presented with the following awards :