 Headquartered at Nadzab , Papua New Guinea , No. 77 Wing only became fully operational on 18 February 1944 , following the arrival of Nos. 21 and 23 Squadrons from Lowood , Queensland . However No. 24 Squadron , which was already based in the theatre of operations , was able to carry out its first sortie on 17 January , bombing targets along Shaggy Ridge in support of the Australian 7th Division . Throughout February the Vengeances , escorted by No. 78 Wing Kittyhawks , concentrated on harassing the retreating Japanese 20th Division , and attacking enemy airfields in the Madang Province . In March , a decision was made to withdraw the dive bombers from operations due to their inferiority to newer equipment . Three RAAF squadrons — No. 22 flying Douglas Bostons , No. 30 flying Bristol Beaufighters , and one other from No. 9 Operational Group flying Bristol Beauforts — were assigned to the wing as replacements . 
