North Western Area RAAF (NWA RAAF) was established at RAAF Station, Darwin on 15 January 1942 to Establishment HD-73 and assumed operational control of the following units:-

RAAF Station Darwin (which Station controls 12 Squadron)
2 Squadron RAAF
13 Squadron RAAF
A.C.H. Nambon
A.O.B.s at Koepang, Namlea, - NEIA
A.O.B.s at Bathurst Island, Broome, Derby, Drysdale Mission, Groote Eylandt, Millingimbi, Port Hedland and Wyndham
5 Replenishing Centre, Batchelor

On 21 February 1942, two days after the major Japanese air raids on Darwin on 19 February, records of HQs NWA were dispersed to shacks in the bush adjacent to RAAF Station Darwin.

5 Fighter Sector Headquarters was formed at Darwin on 25 February 1942.

On about 28 February 1942, HQs NWA moved to a site approximately 1 ½ miles south of RAAF Station Darwin where new office accommodation was set up in tents dispersed in the bush and commenced to function from that site on 1 March 1942.

On 3 March 1942, the main body of Administrative Staff of NWA HQs (listed below) departed for Birdum, to establish a Rear Headquarters, in the vicinity of Larrimah, taking most of the Headquarters records with them:-

S.O.A. (W/Cdr Wilfred George Compagnoni)
Area Equipment Officer (S/Ldr Rule)
P.M.C. (S/Ldr Sangster)
S.O.P. (P/O Palfreyman)
Assistant Equip. Officer (F/Lt Butler)
Area Hygiene Officer (P/O Taylor)
Area Photography Officer (F/O Brinsley)
Area Accounting Officer (F/Lt Powne)
Assist. Area Sigs Officer (F/Lt Carson)
A.L.O. (P/O Harry)
Assist. Med. Officer (F/Lt Harker)
Cypher Officer (P/O Jacobs)
plus their clerks

The Forward Headquarters of NWA moved to a camp at 22 Mile on 4 March 1942. The following Officers operated from there:-

A.O.C. (Air Commodore Wilson)
S.A.S.O. (G/Capt Frederick Rudolph William Scherger, A.F.C.)
S.O. Ops (S/Ldr McGilvray)
S.O. Org. (F/Lt Jack Riverstone Faviell)
Assist Equip. Officer (F/Lt Griffiths)
and staffs of A.C.H., C.O.I.C. and Intelligence

On 25 March 1942, Air Commodore Bladin assumed command of NWA replacing Air Commodore Wilson as AOC.

On 2 April 1942, Area Air Staff moved forward and joined the camp of the Headquarters of 7 M.D. at 18 Mile. The following Officers moved to 18 Mile (sometimes referred to as Air Headquarters):-

A.O.C. (Air Commodore Bladin)
S.A.S.O. (G/Cpt McCauley)
S.O. Ops (S/Ldr McGilvray)
and Officers and Staff of A.C.H., C.O.I.C., Intelligence, Signals and Cypher

The following Area Administrative Staff already located at 22 Mile camp (Administrative Headquarters) stayed at that location:-

S.O.A. (W/Cdr Wilfred George Compagnoni)
A. Arm O. (S/Ldr Sharpe)
A. Eng. O. (F/Lt Connelly)
A.P.M. (F/Lt North)
S. O. Org. (F/Lt Jack Riverstone Faviell)
Movements O. (F/O Morton)
Transport O. (F/O Fenton)

The following Officers moved forward from Birdum to 22 Mile camp on 2 April 1942:-

Equip. O. (S/Ldr Rule)
A. Acctg. O. (F/Lt Powne)
S.O.P. (F/O Palfreyman)

On 1 April 1942, the balance of Administrative Staff Officers arrived from Birdum at the Administrative HQs at 22 Mile with the exception of F/O Edey and three Cypher Officers. Inter communications telephones at Admin HQs were installed by Mobile Signals Section. An Area Despatch Rider service commenced between Darwin, Army Headquarters, Area Headquarters and Batchelor.

On 30 April 1942, Administrative Staff moved from 22 Mile Camp to the Berrimah Hospital building located about 3 miles south of RAAF Station Darwin. Air Staff also moved there from 18 Mile Camp on 1 May 1942.

On 23 May 1942, US Air Command No. 1, comprising the 38the Bomb Group (M), 43rd Bomb Group (H) and the 49th Pursuit Group merged with North Western Area Headquarters and the following American Officers joined the staff of the Headquarters:-

Colonel Albert L. Sneed, USAAF as Chief of Staff
Major W.S. Donahey Jnr., USAAF as Assistant Intelligence Officer
Major Harry Porter, USAAF as Ordnance Officer
Major Dan Searcy USAAF as Assistant Medical Officer
Captain E.C. Light, USAAF as Assistant G-4

On 26 May 1942 the following Area Works Office Staff moved to Adelaide River into an office adjacent to Colonel Alfred Edward Toyer (NX76562), Chief Engineer, 7 M.D.:-

Col. H.R. Cole, USA
Major Pickard USA
S/Ldr Clifford John Trewin (252377)
P/O A. Ellis
P/O A.B. Overand?

On 26 June 1942, the designation of Headquarters was changed in accordance with General Order No. 21 to the following:-

“Headquarters, North Western Area, Allied Air Forces”

On 3 July 1942, Wing Commander Thomson (S.O.A.) made a reconnaissance of the Adelaide River area in connection with the proposed move of NWA to Advance and Rear Headquarters in that area. Whilst the Rear Headquarters did end up at Adelaide River (About a mile past 70 Mile peg), the Advance Headquarters ended up near Coomalie Creek, some 12 ½ mile further north.

On 14 August 1942, Advance Headquarters North Western Area was established at 57 Mile near Coomalie Creek. The following Officers and Sections moved from Berrimah to 57 Mile:-

S.A.S.O.
A.C.H.
Intelligence
Equipment
Organisation
Personnel
Medical
Armament
Navigation
Photography Office
Ops & Planning
Chief Signals Officer
Engineer Officer
Transport Officer
Accounting Officer
A.O.B. Officer