Bill Gibbs was one of many dedicated young meteorologists who remained with the Bureau. With the encouragement of the Director of Meteorology, H. N. Warren, and other senior officers, they exploited the advances in scientific knowledge and technology which had occurred during the war. They laid the foundations for a Bureau of Meteorology which today has an enviable reputation both nationally and internationally.

Much later, with Bill and John Lillywhite, I was involved in the formation of the Frosterley Club (described by John Lillywhite in Metarch Papers No 4, published in February 1992). Membership of this Club, still operating today, was, and is, open to long serving members of the Bureau of Meteorology and all those who served in the RAAF Meteorological Service. Some of the original members of Frosterley had served in World War I as well as World War II.

It is appropriate that this volume of the reminiscences of Bill Gibbs should be published in 1995 which the Commonwealth Government has designated as the year of the Australia Remembers 1945–1995 commemorative program.

In a recent letter to the President of Frosterley, the Hon Con Sciacca MP, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, said "The role of the RAAF Meteorological Service in the war is not as well known as it should be and Australia Remembers 1945–1995 program seeks to ensure that the great service to the nation by people such as those in your service is recognised and honoured by the Australian community."

These reminiscences of Bill Gibbs together with other Metarch Papers (No 5 by John Joyce, No 6 by Keith Hannay and a forthcoming Metarch paper by Tom Haldane) make important contributions to a better understanding of the role of the RAAF Meteorological Service in the war.

Allen Bath

Melbourne
February 1995

Bureau of Meteorology