Another point not mentioned about that flight is the amount of flak Harold copped over his decision making on that flight. He was hurt by the amount of 'armchair' experts dissecting the end result afterward. It is mentioned in the book about his fellow WWII compatriot Charles Learmonth in the book 'Wings of Destiny.'
In some ways it is sad that Harold is more famous for this event than his exploits in PNG during WWII which were truly remarkable.