By December 1941, Lukis' frontline strength in the Northern Territory consisted of No. 2 Squadron flying Lockheed Hudsons, No. 12 Squadron flying CAC Wirraways, and No. 13 Squadron flying Hudsons, all based at RAAF Station Darwin.Helson, The Forgotten Air Force, pp. 57–60, 118 When the Pacific War broke out, Nos. 2 and 13 Squadrons deployed forces to advanced operational bases at Koepang, Laha and Namlea in the Dutch East Indies.Helson, The Forgotten Air Force, pp. 65–67 Nos. 11 and 20 Squadrons, flying PBY Catalinas, were based at Port Moresby in Papua and No. 24 Squadron, flying Hudsons and Wirraways, at Rabaul in New Britain.Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 237–238 Northern Area Command was instructed to "strike at Japanese bases or shipping wherever possible", "obtain such warning as is possible of any attempted southward movements by the Japanese", "keep open the shipping routes through the Coral, Arafura and Timor Seas", and "deny enemy access to Rabaul and to the Territories of New Guinea, Papua and the Mainland of Australia". Nos. 2, 11, 13, 20 and 24 Squadrons undertook reconnaissance, maritime patrol and sporadic bombing missions against Japanese targets in the Dutch East Indies and Torres Strait.Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 240–242 Short of modern fighters and sufficient numbers of bombers, the RAAF units were, according to the official history of Australia in the war, "virtually powerless" to either attack or defend against Japanese forces building up in the region.Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 319–322
