On 10 September, the Italian fleet, photographed so many times by Warby, arrived in Malta to formally surrender. A week later, Warby paraded with 683 Squadron for the final time. He left Malta on 1 October, having been in command of a squadron on continuous war operations for 14 months. This was highly unusual. But he was not posted to a rest tour. He was to become the first commanding officer of a newly formed RAF North African photo-recce wing. It comprised 682 and 683 Squadrons with PR Spitfires, and 60 (South African Air Force) Squadron with PR Mosquitos. The wing was based at La Marsa in Tunisia. Soon afterwards, Warby was awarded a US Distinguished Flying Cross for his exceptional work at Pantelleria and Sicily, although it was not gazetted until mid-January 1944.