 Brett 's replacement , Major General George Kenney , arrived in the theater in August , and Walker was appointed Commanding General , V Bomber Command , Fifth Air Force on 3 September , with his headquarters in Townsville . At this time , Port Moresby was subject to frequent Japanese air raids , so the bombers were generally based in the Townsville area and staged through Port Moresby to minimize their chance of loss or damage on the ground . In mid @-@ September 1942 , at the height of the Kokoda Track campaign , Kenney sent Walker to Port Moresby for a few weeks to direct the advanced echelon , to give Whitehead a rest and Walker more experience . Walker attempted to lift morale by improving the men 's living conditions . He made a point of small gestures of fellowship , such as standing in line with the men at meal times . But what endeared him most to his men was his willingness to share the dangers as well as their hardships , by flying a mission a week on average . In October , General Douglas MacArthur gave Kenney a dressing down for flying over the Owen Stanley Range . In turn , Kenney ordered Walker , Wilson and Whitehead not to fly any more missions . For a variety of reasons , all four of them eventually disobeyed their orders . 
