RAAF Meteorological Service
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Weather Factor in Warfare
Chapter 2: Establishing and Developing the RAAF Directorate of Met. Services (D.Met.S)
Chapter 3: Recruiting and Training of Personnel
Chapter 4: Meteorology in Aviation
Chapter 5: The Met. Retreating
Chapter 6: The Met. Advancing
Chapter 7: The Met With the Army and the Navy
Chapter 8: Divisional Offices of the Bureau of Meteorology During the War
Melbourne
Sydney
Brisbane
Perth
Adelaide
Hobart
Chapter 9: Research and Instrumental Development
Chapter 10: The End, Aftermath, and Beyond
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
References
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
Brisbane
Because of its location, Brisbane Divisional Office was closest to the combat area during the war. From September 1939, this office was immediately concerned with the re-organisation of the issue of weather information throughout Queensland—strictly according to censorship imposed for security reasons. Much administrative work was involved—in particular with relation to the press and broadcasting; and in examination and revision of the numerous channels through which weather information had been disseminated throughout the State in peacetime.Direct services to the armed forces and to government authorities—and also where possible to manufacturing, commercial and other interests (such as authorised subscribers and postmasters)—had to be placed on a wartime footing. Special attention had to be given to the continued provision of meteorological safeguards to civilian life and property through flood and storm warnings.
Though censorship was modified from time to time during 1939 and 1940, fuller restriction came into force from December 1941 when the Japanese struck. While much of the above comment applied to the other States, the advance of the enemy towards Australia brought meteorological services in Queensland integrally into association with organisations to meet the actual planning of fighting operations and defence, in view of a possible landing by the Japanese on the Queensland coastline. Reference to the Brisbane Line following the early Allied reverses to the north and the desperate battles fought in the Coral Sea and at Milne Bay in 1942, serves to indicate the very real threat of invasion that loomed.
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/0309.html