With the Army (continued)

'When it became necessary to bring a barrage down to within fifty or eighty yards of our own troops, meteorologists were hard put to it to keep up a sufficiently rapid flow of observations. Firing in the jungle at night to prevent infiltration by the Japanese was often greatly assisted by a knowledge of wind velocity. It was possible for the artillery to direct its fire to a particular zone without preliminary ranging shots, and so, to surprise the enemy.'
'For long-range firing, the ballistic correction was sometimes astonishingly high. For example, in March 1945, a detachment from No. 3 MMF in action with the 2/2nd Australian Field Regiment at Matapu, west of Aitape, calculated a range correction of 1,025 yards for a battery firing a supercharge from the Anumb River to the outer defence of But, with our own troops disposed less than 300 yards from the area. The correction was something of a record, and its application in the circumstances indicated great confidence in the work of the meteorologists.'[82]

A somewhat similar dramatic incident occurred when I was in charge of a detachment of No. 1 MMF at No. 1 Australian Corps, Headquarters on the Atherton Tableland, Queensland, during 1944. The AIF 6th and 9th Divisions were there preparing for the forthcoming campaign in the Aitape-Wewak-Nadzab area of northern New Guinea. On 23 November 1944 an artillery battery of 6-inch howitzers was conducting a shoot for officer training purposes. The scene was the wilderness of the Walsh River area. The Colonel of the regiment involved, and a group of subordinate officers, were at an observation post there about nine miles from the gun emplacements. The Colonel had ordered me to stand by with the 'meteor' ready to be used when he directed.

Figure 11 Field gun and crew 9th Division AIF, RAAF Mobile Met. Flight with despatch rider standing by Ravenshoe, QLD January 1945.

Figure 12 Flight Lieutenant R. Barnes, OC No 2 MMF at HQ 9th Division AIF calls weather data received from broadcasts and field sections. This information is being plotted by Met. assistant, Corporal A. I. Frost.

Figure 13 A landing ship tank loaded with troops and equipment of HQ 9th Division AIF drawing away from the beach prepared for an operation. Australian War Memorial negative no. 108698

Figure 14 Warrant Officer Clyde Paddick, 3 MMF, attached HQ RAAF 6th Division AIF, filling a balloon from a hydrogen generator. Wewak Area, New guinea, 5 June 1945.

The target was an outcrop of granitic rocks some distance from the observation post. The firing began with the first salvo landing short. The second and third salvos were shorter still. The CO then turned to me and said, 'May we have the meteor please'. I handed over the ballistic figures written on a form and a Captain telephoned them back to the gunpits with the direction that the corrections be applied. We waited—I, with bated breath; the others with amused interest at my being on the spot. The salvo tore the air, whistled, screamed and hit—smack on the rocks!

'There you are gentlemen!' beamed the Old Man. 'Note the effect of ballistic winds and temperature'.

Bureau of Meteorology