VMF(N)-532 operated under MAG-31, 4th Marine Base Defense Air Wing on Ella Island, Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands from January 14 to February 15, 1944. Upon arrival the Marines stationed there were relieved to see the night fighters, the Japanese had been carrying out small nuance raids on the island. Working with Ground Controllers they had lots of close intercepts but never made contact.
Their Next stop in February 44 was Roi on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Major Everett Vaughn (no.201 "Shirley June") was the first to land thus became the first fighter pilot to land on Japanese mandated territory. There they linked up with Air Warning Squadron One (AWS-1) who had more advanced ground control equipment to help vector to Japaneses night raiders that had become a major problem at Roi. The squad found success on April 14 with 2 Betty kills and 1 probable, these would be the squads only kills of the war. Further action would be night raids on Wotje in the Marshall Islands and night patrols from Saipan and Guam before transferring back home in October 44.
Their biggest contribution was setting the path for future night fighter squadrons and night operations along with helping the development of the F6F-5N and Wildcat night fighters.
BG1 by
whitemanLS1, on Flickr
BG2 by
whitemanLS1, on Flickr
