In September 1944, Cole handed NWA over to Air Commodore Alan Charlesworth. At this stage of the war, the Allies were advancing north and the tempo of operations in the Darwin area had decreased. Group Captain Peter Jeffrey led No. 1 Wing to the Tanimbar Islands and strafed targets in Selaru, but told Caldwell that he considered the raid a wasted effort and had only undertaken it to boost the spirit of his pilots. Charlesworth raised concerns regarding No. 80 Wing, warning higher command that its morale would drop if it was not either given a more active role in the war or transferred to southern Australia for rest. By October, the wing had received orders to depart NWA for Morotai to join the First Tactical Air Force; this left NWA with twelve squadrons at its disposal, including one Liberator unit and three other Spitfire squadrons. In the meantime, NWA supported the assault on Leyte with attacks on ports, oil facilities, and shipping in the Dutch East Indies using Beaufighters, Mitchells, and Liberators. These operations continued through November and December. No. 31 Squadron transferred from Coomalie to the First Tactical Air Force on Morotai in December. By then, NWA headquarters staff numbered 651, including 156 officers.