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Table of Contents

Memories of the Bureau of Meteorology

Preface

Memories of the Bureau of Meteorology 1929–1946 by Allan Cornish

History of Major Meteorological Installation in Australia from 1945 to 1981 by Reg Stout

Four Years in the RAAF Meteorological Service by Keith Swan

The Bureau of Meteorology in Papua New Guinea in the 1950s by Col Glendinning
Foreword
Introduction
Brief History and Geography
Station Operations
Air Transport
The Port Moresby Office
Housing for Bureau Staff, Port Moresby
Staff Members and Their Families
Local Transport
Education
Entertaining, Sport and Lifestyle
Shopping Facilities
Malaria
Native Servants
Communication with Native Servants
Meteorology
Forecasting Problems in Port Moresby
Other Comments


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Air Transport

As there were very few roads in TPNG, aircraft services were a most important means of transport. Qantas was the main operator both domestically and internationally.

In 1954, there was a total of 140 aerodromes, flying boat bases and heliports in TPNG. The airlines carried approximately 485 tons of freight and mail and 18,000 passengers between Australia and TPNG. Recorded monthly aircraft movements in TPNG averaged 6,200, of which 3,450 were at 25 Government aerodromes, 1,250 were at 43 Administration aerodromes, 700 were at 40 private aerodromes, 400 were at 25 flying boat bases and 400 were at six heliports. Please note that a movement constitutes a take-off or landing and that the actual number of flights was therefore much less.

There were six aerodromes in TPNG that could be used by all aircraft types in use in the Territory at the time—Port Moresby, Lae, Boram (at Wewak), Nadzab (near Lae), Momote (Manus district) and Munda in the Solomon Islands. Two others could be used by aircraft up to the size of a DC4, 35 more by aircraft up to the size of a DC3 with the remainder suitable only for light aircraft. Port Moresby and Rabaul flying boat bases were suitable for all types; other bases were suitable only for Catalinas and smaller types. Many of the aerodromes serviced mission stations.

For some years Qantas Sandringham flying boats flew on a regular schedule between Australia and Port Moresby. By December 1954, DC4s had replaced the Sandringhams.

Catalinas were used by Qantas on a flying boat service between Port Moresby and Rabaul which ceased in July 1958.

World Wide Air Services, supporting an oil search company, operated Catalinas from Fairfax Harbour to various water bases at the head of the Gulf of Papua.

Helicopters were used in oil search activities.


People in Bright Sparcs - Glendinning, Colin (Col)

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Cornish, A., Stout, R., Swan, K and Glendinning, C. 1996 'Memories of the Bureau of Meteorology', Metarch Papers, No. 8 February 1996, Bureau of Meteorology

© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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