Chemical Warfare Experiments

Gas was never employed by either side in World War II—although Japan was accused of having done so on several occasions in China—but our forces were prepared to reciprocate immediately if the Axis powers had initiated this form of chemical attack in any of the theatres of war. That meant readiness of equipment and supplies, together with experience in handling gas under various conditions of atmosphere and terrain, so that a great deal of experimental work became necessary in the new battle region of the Pacific. Australia contributed to this by establishing two field experimental stations in Queensland—at Proserpine and Innisfail—under the control of the Chemical Defence Board, Ministry of Munitions. There, under conditions of climate and terrain approximating to operational theatres in the South-West Pacific area, a research programme in offensive and defensive aspects of chemical warfare was carried out. Specially trained RAAF meteorological personnel assisted in the task. These were given a basic chemical warfare course in addition to their normal meteorological training, after which they were posted to either of the experimental stations to assist the forecasting and research officers also provided by the Directorate.

Bureau of Meteorology