2 / 9th Commando Squadron ( Australia ) The 2 / 9th Commando Squadron was a commando unit raised by the Australian Army for service in World War II . Raised in 1944 , the unit saw action late in the war against the Japanese during the Aitape - Wewak campaign taking part in number of long range patrol operations across the Torricelli Range in New Guinea before being used in an amphibious landing near Wewak in May 1945 . After the war the unit was disbanded . History . Formation . At the beginning of World War II , the Australian Army formed a number of independent companies which later became commando squadrons . Initially these units were formed with the intention of sending them to the Middle East to fight , however , following Japan ' s entry into the war and the subsequent shift in Australia ' s strategic focus , these units were employed in a variety of roles in the early stages of the fighting in the Pacific , serving with considerable distinction . In 1943 – 44 , as part of a re - organisation of the Australian Army to prepare it for jungle warfare , these independent commando squadrons were re - organised into a regimental system underneath the headquarters of the divisional cavalry units of the 6th , 7th and 9th Divisions . As a part of this re - organisation , the 2 / 9th Commando Squadron was raised in January 1944 , as part of the 2 / 6th Cavalry Commando Regiment , attached to the 6th Division . Aitape – Wewak campaign . Following the unit ' s formation , the squadron began training on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland , before embarking for New Guinea in late 1944 . In October 1944 , the squadron was one of the first Australian combat units to relieve the American forces at Aitape . From there , it took part in the Aitape - Wewak campaign which saw the squadron undertake numerous long - range patrols across the Torricelli Range , as well as being utilised as normal line infantry when required . In this role they were utilised in May 1945 in an amphibious landing at Dove Bay , east of Wewak , as part of Farida Force . During this landing , the squadron came ashore in the first wave of the assault force and was instrumental in establishing the beach head . Once the rest of Farida Force had landed , the squadron began patrolling operations along the coast to the west towards the town of Mandi . The patrol was carried out without contacting the Japanese , however , later , as they moved further west past Mandi , they came upon two stragglers . The next day , ' B ' Troop ' s positions west of Mandi were mortared by the Japanese , and after a brief period of suppression fire from the beachhead , the troop attacked , taking the track junction and exploiting further westwards . Later in May and into June 1945 , the 2 / 9th were attached to the 19th Brigade and were given responsibility for defending the Bandi Plantation and the vital crossroads at Mandi . In late June , the infiltration of Japanese troops around Boiken threatened the security of the Australian positions and 2 / 9th along with the rest of the 2 / 6th Cavalry Commando Regiment were engaged in operations to deal with these threats . These raids continued through July and into August , before hostilities finally came to an end on 15 August 1945 . Disbandment . After the cessation of hostilities , the unit was slowly reduced as personnel were marched out for demobilisation or for service with the occupation forces in Japan . The remaining members of the squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 , and in early 1946 the 2 / 9th was finally disbanded . During the squadron ' s service during the war , it lost 12 men killed in action . Members of the 2 / 9th received the following decorations : one MC , one MM and five MIDs . Commanding Officer . The 2 / 9th Commando Squadron ' s Commanding Officer was :