raaf geographically based commands raised royal_australian_air_force raaf world war existence covered central northern queensland formed january eastern covered northern australia headquartered queensland primarily responsible air defence aerial reconnaissance protection sea lanes boundaries aircraft control took battles port bay landings command continued operate following end war responsibilities raaf new functional command control system headquarters disbanded years later history world war formed queensland january taking eastern portion previously established raaf geographically based command control zones covered northern new_south_wales queensland roles area commands air defence protection adjacent sea lanes aerial reconnaissance area led air officer commanding responsible administration operations air bases units boundary outbreak pacific war december catalyst split nwa counter distinct threats new_guinea respectively charge inaugural taking responsibility raaf operations japanese new_guinea surrounding islands headquarters staff numbered january force japanese aircraft attacked destroying badly damaging killing wounding crewmen squadron wing commander following day headquarters sent signal ordering airfield open left replied legendary ancient phrase honour emperor die salute ignoring message headquarters abandon squadron escape bomber january began evacuating staff new_guinea squadron operating short empire flying boats smaller transports raised february earlier month warned higher command poor state low morale australian_army troops port lack air cover apparent lack interest government february nos fighter sector headquarters established coordinate fighter operations based respectively seventeen squadron recently formed deployed mid march commanded squadron leader squadron suffered heavy losses ensuing battle point headquarters gave jackson permission withdraw refused squadron eventually credited destroying thirty japanese aircraft air ground securing port relieved 35th 36th squadrons operating bomber formations operated control early including 8th squadron flying fortresses squadron initially known april operational authority raaf combat infrastructure including area commands invested newly established headquarters result integration raaf staff area headquarters according official history raaf diplomatic gesture practical method war organisation gave personnel services opportunity quickly example atmosphere happy staff extremely cooperative following battle coral sea units longer operated raaf control commanded directly senior american officers operational headquarters reinforced concrete bunker known building completed located green street base castle hill topped suburban house enemy aircraft month formed taking control units new_south_wales southern queensland left command nos squadrons fighter sector headquarters squadron squadron nos squadrons fighter sector headquarters port boundaries august portion queensland districts assigned control handed command later august end month headquarters staff numbered squadron defence squadron deployed north flying played senior australian_army commanders described decisive role new_guinea august september battle exercised overall command raaf units headquarters efforts coordinated ground group captain senior air staff officer september operational group formed port mobile strike force forward allied advances pacific contrast static defensive nature area commands took units new_guinea previously operating initially retained administrative control group january group independent area command administration responsibility melbourne september saw formation led air vice marshal oversee majority australian flying units exercised control air operations area commands continued hold overarching administrative authority australian units personally coordinated operations involved area command instance fighter squadrons nwa required major attack radar wing formed february following month took control radar stations april area command directly controlled squadrons tasked primarily anti submarine warfare squadron flying reconnaissance bombers squadron fleet operation unit flying nos squadrons flying reconnaissance bombing missions early japan believed capable invading bombing islands squadron operating counter threat reinforced april squadron flying fighters month wing formed deploying new_guinea controlling squadron squadron flying squadron dive bombers wing responsible air defence offensive operations infrastructure shipping dutch new_guinea october squadron converted transferred newly formed wing given responsibility units thursday island field february wing headquarters moved field soon joined units control nos squadrons operated declared non operational june prior duty order battle australian mainland consisted nos operating squadrons served november handing held command remainder war end november headquarters staff numbered including ninety seven officers joined aircraft group support invasion december january conducted laying operations lead landings april august wing headquarters formed january subsequently based transferred darwin northern territory came control nwa headquarters oversaw operations squadrons including month wing disbanded units direct responsibility headquarters wing disbanded october following decision assign control raaf radar stations mobile fighter control units similar formations end february headquarters staff numbered including officers wing headquarters transferred year disbanded following month post war activity disbandment following end pacific war august dissolved assumed control operational formations including area commands end month headquarters staff numbered including ninety officers air_force dramatically personnel units disbanded raaf bases aircraft employed operations war situated sphere control new_south_wales southern queensland september chief air staff air vice marshal proposed reducing extant mainland area commands north western eastern southern western areas covering queensland covering new_south_wales covering western_australia south_australia victoria tasmania rejected plan wartime area command boundaries essentially remained place headquarters located squadron based march year operating pacific australia northern approaches maritime reconnaissance search rescue roles appointed september served years post handing acting commencing october raaf reorganised geographically based command control system based function february newly constituted functional organisations home training assumed control operations training maintenance headquarters remained existence remote control points finally disbanded december succeeded headquarters building housed group order battle april order battle comprised raaf station general purpose squadron transport squadron fighter squadron raaf station general purpose squadron raaf station port general reconnaissance squadron general reconnaissance squadron general reconnaissance squadron fighter squadron fighter sector headquarters fighter sector headquarters port
North-Eastern Area Command (RAAF)