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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Help
Contact us
Japanese Attempt to Invade Port Moresby by Sea (continued)
Between 10 April and 13 May 1942 Port Moresby had experienced 23 Japanese air-raids, making a total of 48 since 3 February. At our location in Konedobu we were not under direct threat, but the threat of imminent invasion, our poor diet and the debilitating climate meant that we were in poor physical condition. My old mate Bryan Rofe was in far worse shape, having been lucky to survive eight weeks leading a party of RAAF and Army survivors in Timor. Rescued by a US submarine Bryan and his party were returned to Perth on 17 April where he was installed in a hospital bed.In Port Moresby I sought medical attention on 12 May and was admitted to a RAAF field hospital with dengue fever. I have never felt so desperately ill. I can distinctly recall a RAAF hospital orderly trying to persuade me to eat. When I refused he said "Look sir, if you don't eat you don't shit and if you don't shit you die". I had never heard this expression before. I was highly amused by it, and took some food.
I remember that when my dengue fever was at its height I was urged to take shelter during an air-raid but preferred to remain in my hospital bed. This was possibly on 14 May when 26 Japanese bombers and six Zeros staged their 50th raid on Port Moresby. Medical treatment gradually reduced my elevated temperature and I was discharged from hospital on 17 May feeling somewhat fragile.
The attack of dengue fever was probably responsible for the vagueness of my memory of most of the events of the next two months. I cannot clearly recall our meteorological routine at that time although I know I was back on duty on discharge from hospital. However I do have a clear memory of certain other events.
People in Bright Sparcs - Rofe, Bryan
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Bureau of Meteorology |  |
© 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
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