ighter ) ▁Wing , ▁whose ▁role ▁was ▁to ▁defend ▁North - West ern ▁Area ▁from ▁Japanese ▁air ▁attack . ▁On ▁ 8   M arch , ▁No . ▁ 4 5 2 ▁Squadron ▁was ▁ur g ently ▁dispatch ed ▁to ▁the ▁vic inity ▁of ▁Per th , ▁Western ▁Australia , ▁in ▁response ▁to ▁concerns ▁that ▁a ▁Japanese ▁naval ▁force ▁would ▁ra id ▁the ▁area , ▁but ▁it ▁proved ▁abort ive ; ▁no ▁attack ▁en su ed , ▁and ▁the ▁squad rons ▁were ▁directed ▁to ▁return ▁to ▁Dar win ▁on ▁ 2 0   M arch . ▁The ▁journey ▁to ▁Per th ▁had ▁taken ▁No . ▁ 4 5 2 ▁Squadron ▁through ▁bad ▁weather , ▁and ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁mentioned ▁in ▁des patch es ▁for ▁his ▁efforts ▁she ph erd ing ▁his ▁Sp it f ires ▁to ▁their ▁destination . ▁From ▁ 9 ▁to ▁ 2 1 ▁May , ▁Sp ence ▁held ▁command ▁of ▁No . ▁ 1 ▁Wing ▁in ▁the ▁absence ▁of ▁the ▁officer ▁command ing , ▁Group ▁Captain ▁Peter ▁Jeff rey . ▁The ▁next ▁month , ▁No . ▁ 4 5 2 ▁Squadron ▁transferred ▁from ▁No . ▁ 1 ▁Wing ▁to ▁the ▁recently ▁formed ▁No . ▁ 8 0 ▁( F ighter ) ▁Wing , ▁commanded ▁by ▁Group ▁Captain ▁C live ▁C ald well . ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁temporary ▁squad ron ▁leader ▁on ▁ 1   J uly . ▁No . ▁ 4 5 2 ▁Squadron ▁completed ▁conversion ▁from ▁M k ▁V ▁Sp it f ires ▁to ▁M k ▁VII