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
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Japanese Attempt to Invade Port Moresby by Sea
From 10 April onwards it became clear that the Japanese would attempt to invade Port Moresby by sea. The rugged terrain and thick jungles of the Owen Stanley Range made a land assault on Port Moresby by their forces from the Lae, Salamaua, Nadzab area extremely difficult. In any event Port Moresby was a key for their success and we experienced heavy air-raids every other day on Jackson's strip, the wharf or any ship which might be in the harbour. By the end of April they had occupied key locations on New Britain, Manus and Bougainville Islands and had a foothold on the northern coast of New Guinea. We had no information on a plan for the defence of Port Moresby nor any directions on what action we should take in case of a Japanese landing.The heavy and persistent Japanese bombing and strafing attacks on Jackson's strip made its use by the fighters of RAAF No 75 Squadron, the USAF Airacobras and RAAF DC-3 transport aircraft extremely hazardous. No other aircraft were based in Port Moresby although our morale was boosted by the sight of US twin-engine bombers calling in to refuel before proceeding to attack Japanese bases.
Japanese troop transports, protected by aircraft carriers and other naval forces, landed troops on Tulagi in the Solomon Islands on 3 May 1942 and on 6 May another group of 12 troop transports, supported by a naval force including three aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines was about to round the south-east tip of New Guinea en route for Port Moresby. Fortunately for us, two US naval task forces were in the Coral Sea at the same time, having been alerted to Japanese intentions by US and Australian efforts in intercepting and deciphering Japanese Naval and Air Force radio messages (see Bleakley, 1991). The ensuing battle was unique in naval history in that there was no ship to ship engagement, all attacks being from carrier-based and land-based aircraft. The engagement resulted in loss or severe damage to aircraft carriers and other naval vessels and considerable loss of aircraft by both sides. The Japanese were not prepared to proceed with a landing at Port Moresby and turned back to Rabaul.
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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