In May 1942, with a total of some 230 operational sorties already recorded in his log books, Buchanan was posted to an HQ staff job and shortly after was awarded a Bar to his DFC, its citation mentioning his keenness for operational work as “outstanding, no task being too arduous or too hazardous. Throughout he has displayed courage, initiative and tremendous enthusiasm”. Buchanan accepted his enforced rest with great reluctance and spent the six months he was to endure in a chairborne capacity constantly harassing his superiors for an active post.
HIs wish was finally granted in November 1942 when he was sent to Malta to take up an appointment as commander of No 272 Squaron at Ta Kali airfield. His arrival on the suadron typified Buchanan’s quiet, unflurried approach to all situations. Attaching himself to the next unit operation, BUchanan told his crews, “I have only flown a Beaufighter once in my life but I shall do my best to learn quickly”.
How quickly he learned soon became evident when, on 21 November during a sweep over Sfax and Gabes, he attacked a Heinkel He115 floatplane near Linosa Island. Firing just one crisp burst of 20mm cannon he sent the He115 down in flames into the sea. Next day Buchanan and one of his pilots discovered a lone Cant Z506b en route to Tunisia. Buchanan ordered his No 2 to attack while he deliberately flew to one side of the Cant to attract the Italians attention away from the second Beaufighter. His No 2 made one pass, then Buchanan closed on its tail and shot it straight into the waves. Shortly after the two Beafighters met a four-engined JU90 transport and in turn attacked the unwieldy aircraft, knocking pieces of metal off it. Buchanan’s voice then came over the R/T, cool and drawling, “My guns have jammed...very thoughtless of them”...
Three days later, on 24 November, Buchanan led four of 272’s Beaufighters off shortly before 8 am to scour the Gulf of Tripoli for Axis aircraft attempting to suply Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Two hours later a junker JU52 was spotted some 40 miles from Liosa and Buchanan carried out an astern attack, his shells causing the JU’s starboard engine to erupt in flames before the tri-motored transport curved down to crash. As Buchanan swept low over the wreckage he saw about ten surviving passengers swimming in the sea.
On 26 November Buchanan was again airborne early, leading three pairs of Beaus, off minutes before 8 am to patrol the Gulf of Tripoli. Just east of Pantellaria two hours later a JU52 flew overhead, obviously heading for that island, and Buchanan immediatley climbed in pursuit. Closing on its tail as it neared the coast he fired one sustained burst, shattering the JU’s starboard engine and sending it down to explode on impact with the sea. Next morning Bucahnan and his wingman were sweeping the Zarzis-Cap Bon area and spotted a pair of Messerschmitt Bf110s about 20 miles south-east of Zarzis flying low at 1000 feet. Attacking one of these from below  and astern, Buchanan saw pieces flying off its starboard wing before it dived to sea level and fled southwards. One Bf110 then attacked Buchanan in a series of frontal quarter onslaughts lasting some 15 minutes before breaking away with Buchanan in pursuit and eventually being shot down.
In his second sortie of the same day Buchanan attacked a JU88 near Cap Bon. His first stern attack produced no visible result but the JU’s rear gunner’s fire hit the Beaufighter’s port engine. Closing to 75 yards’ range Buchanan poured a long burst into the junkers’ starboard wing and engine, watched it spin down into the sea in flames, then nursed his crippled Beaufighter back for a safe landing at Ta Kali.