 In Hawaii, VF-2 participated in a Marine landing exercise and so impressed the influential "Butch" O'Hare that he requested that VF-2 replace VF-6 in his Air Group aboard .From November 1943 to January 1944, VF-2 saw action during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign.VF-2 participated in O'Hare-designed "bat teams" of 1 Grumman TBF Avenger and 2 Hellcats for night interceptions.