Coordination of RAAF and United States Army Air Force and Navy Weather Services

So as to ensure efficient use of the combined resources of the RAAF and USAAF weather services, a Directorate of Allied Meteorological Services was established by General Order 16 of 4 June 1942, issued from Allied Air Force Headquarters under authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Air Force. This order nominated the Director of RAAF Met. Services as Director of the Allied service, with the R.C.O. of US 15th Weather Squadron as Deputy Director.

Because of a change in the constitution of the Allied Air Force in the South-West Pacific, the original status quo was restored on 8 November 1943, when the Allied Meteorological Service was dissolved by General Order 61. The D.Met.S. and the R.C.O. of the US 15th Weather Squadron resumed control over their separate organisations. The R.C.O. became responsible for the provision of services to United States air and land forces, and the D.Met.S. responsible for all other meteorological services, including the basic meteorological organisation necessary for the maintenance of both services.

The position as at 1 March 1943 in respect of the USAAF 15th Weather Squadron was established as follows:

Table 4. USAAF 15th Weather Region Meteorological Sections

Forecasting Status	18
Observing Status	2
Total	20
Personnel Strength
Forecasters	67
Observers	184
Radio Operators	55
Total	306

Arrangements for the US Navy Weather Service were slightly different. Personnel of this service arrived in Australia in small numbers in 1942, and were eventually placed under the control of the Aerographer to COMSOWESPACFOR, Brisbane.[17]

Bureau of Meteorology