Glimpse of the RAAF Meteorological Service
Preface
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: Growing Up
Chapter 2: Port Moresby Before Pearl Harbour
Chapter 3: Port Moresby After Pearl Harbour
Work in the Meteorological Office
Japanese Land in Rabaul
Catalina and Hudson Operations
First Sight of the Japanese
Japanese Plans for the Invasion of Port Moresby
RAAF Meteorologists Under Threat of Japanese Advance
More Air Raids on Port Moresby
The Story of the Hudson
A Blow to Morale
More Air Raids but No 75 Squadron Kittykawks Arrive
Japanese Attempt to Invade Port Moresby by Sea
Japanese Submarines Attack Sydney
Attack on MV MacDhui
Return to Australia
The Meteorologists' Contribution
Chapter 4: Allied Air Force HQ and RAAF Command, Brisbane
Chapter 5: Japan Surrenders and We Are Demobilised
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Appendix 1: References
Appendix 2: Milestones
Appendix 3: Papers Published in Tropical Weather Research Bulletins
Appendix 4: Radiosonde Observations 1941–46
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
Catalina and Hudson Operations
The Catalina proved to be an extremely robust aircraft, capable of withstanding considerable stress in violent manoeuvres in bombing missions and in avoiding attacks by enemy fighters. The heroic Catalina attacks on Rabaul by No 11 and No 20 Squadrons and by Hudsons of No 24 Squadron in January and February 1942 were responsible for crucial delays to the Japanese advance. For those wishing to read more of their exploits I recommend the accounts of Bennett (1951), Gillison (1962), Johnston (1943, 1945), Odgers (1957, 1984), Parnell and Lynch (1976), Vincent (1978), White (1945) and Wilson (1991, 1992). Sadly some of the pilots with whom I had shared happy mess nights at Ela Beach in 1940 lost their lives during this period. They included Bob Gurney, 'Goff' Hemsworth and Bill Purton, the latter as a pilot of a Short Empire 'C' Class flying boat evacuating civilians and troops from the Netherlands East Indies.The heroism of the crews of the Short Empire 'C' Class and Catalina flying boats and the Hudson aircraft at this time in New Guinea and adjacent areas must rank with that of any other group of Allied forces in the South-west Pacific.
First Sight of the Japanese
The first we saw of the Japanese at Port Moresby was the appearance of a reconnaissance aircraft on 24 January 1942. With no RAAF or US fighters in Port Moresby, the Japanese aircraft, flying above the range of the anti-aircraft battery on top of Touaguba Hill between the harbour and Ela Beach, would have had plenty of time to take photographs, which may well have shown the odd Catalina or Short Empire 'C' Class flying boat, few, if any, aircraft on the Seven-mile airstrip and no naval vessels in the harbour. The impression that Port Moresby was virtually undefended would not have been far from the truth.Our first Japanese air-raid occurred on the night of 3 February 1942. I can recall much discussion among my fellow officers regarding the air-raid precautions we should take. Some felt we should shelter in the slit trenches or more elaborate sand-bagged shelters, all of which contained considerable water underfoot in this, the wet north-west season. Some of us decided to stay in the open and take cover if the noise of the aircraft indicated they were coming in our direction. The Japanese aircraft, which I believe were Kawanisi 'Mavis' flying boats, flew singly in wide circles, dropping the occasional bomb at random. The loud droning of their engines kept us awake and out of bed for long periods. I cannot recall any anti-aircraft fire or searchlights. There were no RAAF or USAF fighters in Port Moresby at that time. Eventually the Japanese flying boats departed and we returned to our beds and a somewhat fitful sleep. The Japanese flying boats paid another visit an the night of 5 February with a similar routine, the primary objective of which appeared to be to deprive us of sleep.
People in Bright Sparcs - White, Arthur Charles
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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