Marine Fighting Squadron (Night) 541
VMF(N)-541
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On February 15, 1944 commissioned as Marine Fighting Squadron (Night) 541 in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in Marine Night Fighter Group 53 at Cherry Point in North Carolina. On April 1, 1944 assigned to Marine Air Wing 9 (MAW-9). On August 9, 1944 at North Island the entire squadron was embarked aboard USS Long Island (CVE-1) and departs across the Pacific bound for the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
On August 24, 1944 arrives Espiritu Santo and assigned to Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11). On August 25, 1944 the squadron disembarks with the air echelon remains on Espiritu Santo while the rest of the squadron is transfered aboard USS Tryon (APH-1) and USS Centaurus (AKA-17) and proceed to Guadalcanal. For the remainder of the month, the air echelon flew training mission from Bomber 1 (Pallikulo) and Turtle Bay Airfield areas.

On September 8, 1944 the ground echelon embarked on a transport departs bound for Peleliu. Meanwhile, the flight echelon flew to Emirau Airfield and remains until September 24, 1944.

On November 26, 1944 a request by General Douglas MacArthur was made to Admiral Nimitz to loan a Marine night fighter squadron to defend Leyte and VMF(N)-541 was selected.

On December 3, 1944 the flight echelon of twelve F6F-5N Hellcats "Night Hellcat" night fighters from VMF(N)-541 took off from Peleliu Airfield escorted by three R5C Commandos on a flight to Tacloban Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines arriving at 10:30am. The squadron was placed under the control of the U.S. Army Air Force, Far East Air Force (FEAF), 308th Bomb Wing (308th BW) and shared a camp area with 421st Night Fighter Squadron (421st NFS).

On December 12, 1944 damaged was F6F-3N Hellcat while taxing at Tacloban Airfield when a P-47 Thunderbolt clipped its left wing.

On January 8, 1945 the squadron flew their last patrol mission and began preparations to return to Peleliu Airfield. While operating from Tacloban Airfield, the squadron flew 924 combat hours and claimed 22 enemy planes shot down and 5 parked planes destroyed despite bad weather and the challenges of operating from a crowded forward base. For their actions at Leyte, the squadron was commended by MacArthur to Nimitz: "Your night fighter squadron [VMF(N)-541] has performed magnificently repeat magnificently during its temporary duty in this area."

On January 9, 1945 the squadron began to withdraw but found difficulty obtaining transport and an irregular departure schedule over three days. By January 11, 1945 all squadron personnel, equipment and planes returned to Peleliu Airfield. Elements of the flight echelon were based at Ulithi until August 28, 1945.

Awards
For their service in Leyte, VMF(N)-541 earned an Army Distinguished Unit Citation, the only Marine aviation outfit so honored during World War II.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Lt Col Peter D. Lambrecht (February 15, 1944–June 20, 1945)
Major Norman L. Mitchell (June 21, 1945–July 7, 1945)
Maj Reynolds A Moody (July 8, 1945–August 15, 1945)

References
NARA War Diary Marine Fighting Squadron (Night) 541, August 1944
NARA War Diary Marine Fighting Squadron (Night) 541, December 1944
History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) page 474 (VMF(N)-541)
pages 270 (October 20, 1944 landing), 271 (Battle of Leyte Gulf), 275-278 (USMC arrival Tacloban), 279 (map), 282-287 (Leyte night fighters), 494 (index Tacloban)

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