War History of the Australian Meteorological Service
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: D.Met.S.—Australia's Wartime Weather Service
Chapter 2: The Weather Factor in Warfare
Chapter 3: Met in the Retreat
Chapter 4: Met in the Advance
Chapter 5: Meteorology in Aviation
Functions and Wartime Development
Service at RAAF Training Schools and Stations
Cooperation with US Personnel
Operational Expansion
Movement into Borneo
Chapter 6: Central Forecasting Services
Chapter 7: Met With the Army
Chapter 8: Research and Personnel Training
Chapter 9: Instrumental Development and Maintenance
Chapter 10: Scientific Developments in the RAAF Meteorological Service
Chapter 11: Divisional Bureaux and Their Work
Appendix 1: List of Reports Provided by D.Met.S. for Advances Operational Planning and Other Purposes
Appendix 2: List of Service Personnel RAAF Meteorological Service
Appendix 3: List of Civilian Personnel Who Worked Together with Service Personnel of the RAAF Meteorological Service
Appendix 4: List of Locations at which RAAF Meteorological Service Personnel Served
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
Functions and Wartime Development
It was in the aviation branch that the greatest personnel expansion took place during wartime. This was one of the newest of Australian meteorological developments—at the time of the transfer to the Department of Air in 1940, it comprised only about 50 personnel distributed over 20 civil aviation weather stations operating only in daylight hours. The nucleus of the aviation branch for war comprised the permanent civil officers of the meteorological bureau, most of whom enlisted, together with a group of volunteer Science masters from various State education departments who were recruited and trained as forecasters in 1940 with a view to war service with the RAAF as meteorological officers.Three types of personnel—forecasting officers, meteorological assistants and meteorological charters—were trained specifically for operational service at RAAF and Allied air bases. By the close of hostilities in the Pacific, the branch had expanded to embrace 95 air bases in Australia and abroad, employing 680 people, and providing round the clock service.
The necessary communications channels used in the distribution of weather messages within the internal network were operated by the RAAF and Postmaster-General's Department. Special broadcasting and receiving stations were established to provide the information required by users throughout the Pacific. These and other ancillary services were designed and installed to plans developed by D.Met.S., in association with the communications authorities concerned.
Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Directorate of Meteorological Services (D.Met.S)
 |
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
http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/0668.html