 Posted back to Australia after relinquishing command of No. 1 Rescue and Communication Squadron in June 1943 , Pentland received radar training and helped to set up the RAAF 's early warning grid in northern Australia . He returned to New Guinea in March 1944 as CO of No. 8 Communication Unit , Goodenough Island , which had been formed in November 1943 from Pentland 's old Rescue and Communications Squadron . Operating Tiger Moth , Supermarine Walrus , Consolidated PBY Catalina , Dornier Do 24 , Bristol Beaufort , CAC Boomerang , Bristol Beaufighter , and Vultee Vengeance aircraft , the unit performed reconnaissance and bombing sorties over New Britain and north @-@ eastern New Guinea , as well as rescue and survey missions . In July 1945 , Pentland was posted to Mascot as CO of No. 3 Communication Unit , serving until September . His achievements in New Guinea earned him the Air Force Cross , the citation being promulgated on 22 February 1946 and concluding : 
