▁and ▁dropped ▁them ▁a ▁d ing hy . ▁The ▁S under land ▁redis cover ed ▁the ▁surv iv ors ▁the ▁next ▁day ▁after ▁contact ▁was ▁lost ▁with ▁them ▁over night , ▁and ▁maintained ▁position ▁over ▁the ▁d ing hy ▁until ▁Al lied ▁naval ▁vessels ▁reached ▁it . ▁ ▁No . ▁ 4 0 ▁Squadron ' s ▁regular ▁routes ▁were ▁alter ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁The ▁service ▁from ▁Town sv ille ▁to ▁Port ▁M ores by ▁ended ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁and ▁a ▁new ▁service ▁between ▁Port ▁M ores by , ▁Dar win , ▁Kar um ba ▁and ▁C ains ▁was ▁established . ▁A ▁daily ▁( except ▁for ▁Sunday ) ▁service ▁from ▁Port ▁M ores by ▁to ▁C air ns ▁began ▁the ▁next ▁day ▁and ▁bi - week ly ▁fl ights ▁to ▁the ▁Tre as ury ▁Islands ▁comm enced ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁February . ▁In ▁July ▁the ▁squad ron ▁was ▁issued ▁with ▁four ▁Martin ▁Mar iner ▁flying ▁boats ▁which ▁were ▁based ▁at ▁C air ns ▁and ▁also ▁operated ▁in ▁the ▁transport ▁role . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁Japanese ▁surrender ▁the ▁squad ron ▁fle w ▁ex - pr ison ers ▁of ▁war ▁and ▁other ▁soldiers ▁back ▁to ▁Australia . ▁It ▁was ▁allocated ▁Catal ina ▁aircraft ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 6 , ▁but ▁none ▁were ▁ever ▁delivered . ▁No . ▁ 4 0 ▁Squadron ▁moved ▁to ▁RA AF ▁Base ▁R ath min es ▁on ▁ 6 ▁March ▁and ▁was ▁dis band ed ▁there ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁June .