Original Item: Only One Available. 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.

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 the squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California on September 30, 1944. More training ensued until it departed for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii in January 1945. From MCAS Ewa the squadron was separated into three 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.

This Grouping Consists of the Following:
- Mexican Made Small Bowie Knife With Sheath: The knife is in lovely condition but does have minor oxidation and pitting present on the blade. The blade itself has lovely acid etching on both sides; one side being what looks like a hunting scene with “GARANTIZADO” (Guaranteed) close to the spine. The other side of the blade appears to have “MEXICO” etched onto it, but faintly. The hilt is stamped with USMC but there is no name present on the knife or sheath. The sheath is in lovely condition with signs of faithful service use. The leather is stamped with prominent designs with MEXICO stamped into the leather. The blade measures 8 ¼”, total length 13 ¼” with the sheath measuring 12”.

- Documents & Pictures: These are copies of originals. The copies include (all labeled) a photo of VMF 543 at Cherry Point, NC with Hugh Shell standing in the rear with the other group photo being a bootcamp graduation picture with Shell in the top row third from the right. The last photo is of Shell patrolling around the Yonton area of Okinawa. Yontan (Yomitan) Airfield was originally established by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1944 as Kita Airfield. During the Battle of Okinawa on April 1, 1945, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces seized the airfield on the first day of their landing. It was quickly repaired and became the first airfield on Okinawa to be used by the American forces. Later it was developed into a major American base for Army, Marine, and Navy aircraft. The Boeing B-29 Bockscar landed at Yomitan after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Other documents include a copy of his service report which lists his full name as Eli Hugh Shell, born on April 25, 1924 in Missouri and enlisting in the Marine Corps on August 18, 1943 out of Michigan. He served active duty from September 1, 1943 to March 27, 1946.

Lastly is a photo copy of the Batesville Daily from November 12, 2001 which features an article about Shell. The story printed was titled as Veteran no ‘Private Ryan’, Shell refused discharge after brother’s death. Shell had received a telephone call urging him to watch the movie “Saving Private Ryan”. It was a story that took Shell, a Batesville resident at the time, to his time serving during WWII and the day his older brother was killed. He spoke of the story with a great deal of pride, but one that almost cost him his Marine Corps career.

US Army Captain Jack Shell, an officer with a Glider Artillery unit was killed in action on October 24, 1944 when the aircraft carrier he was on was attacked. Unfortunately the lower portion of the article was cut off when it was being photocopied and we cannot find the original in any databases. The rest of the article explains how Shell turned down his emergency leave to stay overseas.

This is a fantastic grouping that comes more than ready to be further researched and displayed!