[4][5] An advance party departed Garbutt for Horn Island on 21 October, and the wing headquarters was fully established there six days later.

84 Squadron, based at Horn Island and recently converted from CAC Boomerangs to P-40 Kittyhawks, was transferred from the control of No.

33 Operational Base Unit, formed at Townsville in April 1943, established itself at Higgins Field on 23 October.

1 Repair and Salvage Unit was also headquartered at Higgins, but maintained a detachment on Thursday Island.

23 Air Stores Park, based on Thursday Island, was responsible for logistical support of No.

84 Squadron had been responsible for air defence in the Torres Strait since arriving at Horn Island in April 1943, and No.

7 Squadron was credited with shooting down a Japanese "Jake" seaplane during a patrol west of Horn Island on 11 November.

[13] The Beauforts undertook their first bombing and strafing mission from Horn Island against targets in Dutch New Guinea on 27 November.

75 Wing headquarters had a strength of 144 staff, including twenty-three officers, and one de Havilland DH.84.

75 Wing headquarters left Horn Island on 7 February, and the main party departed for Higgins by air and sea eleven days later.

[7] By the end of the month, wing headquarters staff numbered 121, including twenty officers, and the DH.84 had been augmented by a Supermarine Walrus.

7 Squadron continued operations in the Dutch East Indies from Higgins, generally in conjunction with other forces such as B-25 Mitchells from North-Western Area, before its tasking was reduced in August pending transfer to No.

23 Squadron was equipped with A-31 Vengeance dive bombers and undertook army-cooperation duties out of Higgins until being declared non-operational in June.

23 Squadron was subsequently re-equipped with B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and transferred to North-Western Area.