The Bismarck Sea Battle—1 March 1943

'The Japanese convoy was hidden in a front and contact was not made until later in the day. Then a flight of Fortresses attacked again as the ships manoeuvred under cover of squalls. That night the wind changed, and by morning on 3 March, the convoy was entering Huon Gulf under clear skies. The sun broke through just as a second wave of Fortresses approached the target area. There lay the Japanese fleet deprived of its cover, and the battle began with Beaufighters and Mitchell and Boston bombers joining in. The result of the engagement was the complete annihilation of a Japanese convoy bound for Lae.'[66]

Both the Coral and Bismarck Sea battles were won through superior knowledge and tactical use of the weather.

While the desperate engagements in the Coral Sea and at Milne Bay were going on, Australian forces were holding the Kokoda Trail in New Guinea.

The increasing number of USAAC aircraft being used in this period of major engagements necessitated a great increase in the number of weather forecasts required. The main information given by Met. officers was advice on the most favourable routes to follow, possible cloud-cover protection, and conditions likely to occur over bases and targets. Operations were frequently amended on such advices. Meteorological blackboards placed in operations rooms were of considerable value to planners. Close meteorological contact was maintained with operations and intelligence officers at USAAC headquarters at Port Moresby, as the RAAF had the only meteorological section in the area. The only drawback with this arrangement was the lack of personal contact with the pilots at Port Moresby. This was partly overcome by the meteorological section's acquisition of a motor vehicle which was used to travel the seven-mile strip in order to brief aircrews.

Although the Coral Sea battle was mainly an engagement between carrier task forces, Gibbs stated that strikes were also made by B17 and B25 aircraft operating through Port Moresby, while Hudsons and Catalinas carried out reconnaissance. Forecasts issued for these operations were very accurate. At this time, meteorological flights were of great assistance to forecasters.

Bureau of Meteorology