RAAF Meteorological Service
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Weather Factor in Warfare
Chapter 2: Establishing and Developing the RAAF Directorate of Met. Services (D.Met.S)
Chapter 3: Recruiting and Training of Personnel
Chapter 4: Meteorology in Aviation
Chapter 5: The Met. Retreating
Chapter 6: The Met. Advancing
Chapter 7: The Met With the Army and the Navy
Chapter 8: Divisional Offices of the Bureau of Meteorology During the War
Chapter 9: Research and Instrumental Development
Chapter 10: The End, Aftermath, and Beyond
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
References
Index
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Japanese surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. At the time, I was, as part of my extraneous duties, in charge of the bar of the officers' mess at Milne Bay. We filled a large cane basket with all the bottles of spirits and beer we had and carried it down to where the NCO's and airmen were located—and in the teeming rain we celebrated. Rank was forgotten. We were Americans, British, New Zealanders, Dutchmen, and Australians—as happy as men long-separated from their homes and families could be. World War II was over!
After the great binge, routine was resumed and things went on as usual. After almost six years of war, it was some time before we realised the radical change of situation.
The weather went on regardless. The Met. Service carried on as usual after VP Day—Allied navy, army and air forces continued to operate and manoeuvre; weather information, advices and forecasts were still required. However, a certain tension had eased because the Allies no longer had to contend with the enemy, except to accept his surrender formally in various places. The weather was instrumental in my involvement in one such surrender.
One morning at 0300 hours, I was awakened in my pandanus-thatched hut by a Meteorological Assistant flight-sergeant:
'You're wanted at operations, Sir.'
'What's the matter, Jim?' I murmured sleepily, 'there's an officer on duty'.
'They want you, Sir.'
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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/0326.html