 No. 72 Wing was formed on 23 April 1943 at Townsville , Queensland , under the command of Group Captain Charles Eaton . Early the next month , its headquarters deployed to Merauke , described by the official history of the RAAF in World War II as " a desolate marshy little port in Dutch New Guinea " . Controlling No. 84 Squadron ( flying CAC Boomerang fighters ) , No. 86 Squadron ( P @-@ 40 Kittyhawk fighters ) , and No. 12 Squadron ( A @-@ 31 Vengeance dive bombers ) , the wing 's purpose was to assist in the defence of Torres Strait . 
