the maritime reconnaissance and search-and-rescue roles. Group Captain (later Air Commodore) Ian McLachlan was appointed AOC NEA in September 1951; he served two years in the post before handing over to acting Air Commodore Patrick Heffernan. Commencing in October 1953, the RAAF was reorganised from a geographically based command-and-control system into one based on function. In February 1954, the newly constituted functional organisations—Home, Training, and Maintenance Commands—assumed control of all operations, training and maintenance from North-Eastern Area Command. NEA headquarters remained in existence but only, according to the Melbourne Argus, as one of Home Command's "remote control points". It was disbanded on 3 December 1956, and was succeeded by Headquarters RAAF Townsville (Headquarters Tactical Transport Group from June 1988, and Headquarters Operational Support Group from February 1991). As of 2009, the former NEA operational headquarters in Building 81, Green Street, housed Townsville's State Emergency Service group. Order of battle As at 30 April 1942, NEA's order of battle comprised: RAAF Station Townsville No. 24 (General Purpose) Squadron No. 33 (Transport) Squadron No. 76 (Fighter) Squadron RAAF Station Amberley No. 23 (General Purpose) Squadron RAAF Station Port Moresby No. 11 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron No. 20 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron No. 32 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron No. 75 (Fighter) Squadron No. 3 Fighter Sector Headquarters, Townsville No. 4 Fighter Sector Headquarters, Port Moresby Notes References North-Eastern Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1956 RAAF commands