The RAAF Meteorological Flight (continued)

Wing-Commander Eric Read, AFC, described what the well-dressed pilot wore on meteorological flights which went to altitudes high for those days—and cold, in a virtually open cockpit:

1. 'Normal underclothes;


2. Normal uniform less jacket;


3. One or more woollen pullovers according to your particular choice—usually personal belongings, because the service issue you could shoot peas through;
   
4. Fur-lined Sidcot flying overall suit;


5. Fur-lined pull-on flying boots;


6. Leather fur-lined flying gloves with a pair of silk gloves worn as a liner;


7. Flying helmet and goggles;


8. Knee-pad strapped to leg, either left or right, depending upon right or left-handed; and Parachute.'[32]

On landing, the pilot consulted a Cloud Manual to accurately identify clouds, then rang this information to the duty officer at the Meteorological Bureau, Melbourne. Read recollected that during one flight at 16,000 feet, he had noted a cloud formation away to the south-west which had individual towering pillars of cumulus. On consulting the Manual, he identified them as altocumulus castellatus. 'Ha-Ha', I thought, 'this will stump the Met. boys—but not so. The officer praised me for noting the formation, and then went into a long dissertation of the observation, as it indicated a region of high instability, important for the subsequent forecast. I never tried to be smart again!'

Bureau of Meteorology