war. Meanwhile, the airfield at Tsili Tsili continued to function as both an offensive base and a supply base. It was capable not only of launching USAAF Fifth Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadrons into the air, but also of landing dozens of the Douglas C-47 Skytrain supply planes (known colloquially at the time as the "bully beefs") every day. Following the successful completion of the Salamaua–Lae campaign and the establishment of the Tsili Tsili airbase, both contingents of the 15th Brigade moved back to Port Moresby in September 1943. The 57th/60th remained in Port Moresby until early in 1944 when the 15th Brigade was detached from the 3rd Division and placed under the command of the 7th Division to participate in the Finisterre Range campaign, specifically in the Markham and Ramu valleys. (The bulk of the 7th Division had been brought back to Australia by John Curtin following their successful campaign against the Vichy French in the Syria–Lebanon campaign, and had further distinguished themselves along the Kokoda Track.) The 57th/60th and their equipment arrived by plane at Dumpu in the Ramu Valley, on 7 January 1944. This was the first time that all three battalions, the 24th, the 57th/60th and the 58th/59th Australian Infantry Battalions, had been brought together to form up for battle in New Guinea as the 15th Brigade in its entirety, despite all having been attached to the 15th Brigade, under Brigadier Heathcote Hammer, since their departure from Victoria. In February 1944, after fighting around the Kankiryo Saddle, the 15th Brigade moved up the Faria Valley to take over from the 18th Brigade. The 57th/60th Battalion relieved the 2/9th Battalion on the western side of the saddle. The brigade then advanced towards Madang. Moving along the Bogadjim road, the 57th/60th Battalion mounted a company attack on a Japanese position on the high ground overlooking Bogadjim near Bau-ak on 10 April. Three days later they occupied the village of Bogadjim. The 57th/60th continued the advance towards the coast and on 24 April 1944, a patrol from the battalion was the first Allied unit to reach Madang, which had been abandoned by the rapidly retreating Japanese. Following its occupation of Madang, and after almost 18 months in New Guinea, the 57th/60th Battalion was withdrawn back to Australia for rest and home leave. The official war historian, Gavin Long, considered that with its extensive service the