Group Captain ( later Air Commodore ) Bill Hely took command of Western Area in October 1951 . During Operation Hurricane , the British atomic test in the Montebello Islands in October 1952 , Hely coordinated air support including supply and observation flights by Dakotas of No . 86 ( Transport ) Wing . He completed his term as AOC Western Area in September 1953 , by which time headquarters staff numbered thirty-one , including fifteen officers
Operation Hurricane
Operation Hurricane
Western Area Command (RAAF)