 Malley was recalled to Australia in July 1940 , departing China with a note of thanks from May @-@ Ling for his " loyal service " before rejoining the RAAF on active service as a squadron leader in October . He became the Air Force representative at the Combined Operational Intelligence Centre ( COIC ) , Melbourne , a tri @-@ service organisation responsible for intelligence collection , analysis and dissemination . Drawing on his knowledge of Japanese raids on Chinese airfields in the 1930s , Malley visited several RAAF stations in northern Australia to advise on protective measures ; it became evident in the wake of the attack on Darwin in February 1942 that none of his recommendations had been implemented . COIC primarily handled naval intelligence , so Army and Air Force participation was part @-@ time initially . By April 1941 , Malley had been assigned a full @-@ time role , and the RAAF was maintaining a round @-@ the @-@ clock presence . He was promoted to honorary wing commander in October 1941 , and two months later succeeded Commander Rupert Long as Director of COIC . Malley was raised to acting group captain on 1 July 1942 , but ill health forced him to relinquish his post on 3 October . He was discharged from the Air Force as medically unfit on 9 June 1943 . General Douglas MacArthur praised Malley for his " foresight , planning , and organizational ability " . The former aviator went on to work as officer @-@ in @-@ charge of the Chinese section at the Commonwealth Security Service in Canberra from January 1944 to March 1947 as an honorary group captain . 
