The most difficult month of the war for New Guinea Force HQ was September 1942. Lieutenant-General Sydney Rowell had his hands full dealing with the Japanese push across the Owen Stanley Range as well as the Milne Bay landings, and this led to major conflicts with the Australian commander-in-chief, General Thomas Blamey, himself fighting off an increasingly concerned General MacArthur. After a series of disagreements, exacerbated by Rowell's personal opinion of him, Blamey dismissed Rowell on 28 September, citing an inability to work together. Lieutenant-General Edmund ‘Ned’ Herring, who was more willing to work with General Blamey, replaced Rowell.

By late September repairs were being made to Wau airfield and a plan was in hand to once more take the initiative at Mubo. Captain Winning was not long in doing so. He had finally reported to Lieutenant-Colonel Fleay at Blake's Camp on 24 September, after riding up the Bulolo Valley on horseback to save his damaged feet. He was undoubtedly berated by Fleay over the loss of Mubo without a ight and the ramiications that had followed. Fleay considered ‘Busama a iasco’ and ‘Mubo a bad show on Hicks’ part'. No doubt keen to make amends for the perceived faults in his command, Winning led 30 men forward to Skindiwai on 27 September as part of a force to raid Mubo.

On the same day, following the meeting with Captain Winning, Colonel Fleay sent an extraordinary message to New Guinea Force HQ.