, ▁was ▁appointed ▁the ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁station ▁and ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁Ans ons ▁were ▁transferred ▁to ▁No . ▁ 1 3 ▁Squadron ; ▁only ▁No . ▁ 1 2 ▁Squadron ' s ▁' C ' ▁Fl ight ▁remained ▁with ▁the ▁unit . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁continued ▁to ▁conduct ▁anti - sub marine ▁and ▁mar itime ▁pat rol s ▁and ▁began ▁a ▁program ▁of ▁exer cis es ▁with ▁Royal ▁Australian ▁Navy ▁and ▁Australian ▁Army ▁units ▁based ▁at ▁Dar win ▁from ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁No . ▁ 1 2 ▁Squadron ▁re located ▁to ▁the ▁new ▁military ▁air field ▁in ▁Dar win ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁and ▁reached ▁a ▁strength ▁of ▁ 1 8 ▁Wir raw ays ▁in ▁May . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁increased ▁its ▁flying ▁in ▁the ▁later ▁months ▁of ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁as ▁war ▁with ▁Japan ▁became ▁increasing ly ▁likely . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁War ▁on ▁ 8 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁( local ▁time ), ▁No . ▁ 1 2 ▁Squadron ▁was ▁dispers ed ▁between ▁two ▁air ▁bases ; ▁the ▁squad ron ' s ▁' B ' ▁and ▁' C ' ▁fl ights ▁were ▁transferred ▁to ▁B atch elor ▁Air field ▁while ▁' A ' ▁flight ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁civil ▁aer od rome . ▁On ▁ 1 2 ▁December , ▁the ▁unit ▁had ▁a ▁strength ▁of ▁ 1 8 ▁Wir raw ays ▁but ▁was ▁down ▁to ▁ 1 4 ▁aircraft ▁by ▁mid - F ebru ary