Glimpse of the RAAF Meteorological Service
Preface
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: Growing Up
Chapter 2: Port Moresby Before Pearl Harbour
Chapter 3: Port Moresby After Pearl Harbour
Work in the Meteorological Office
Japanese Land in Rabaul
Catalina and Hudson Operations
First Sight of the Japanese
Japanese Plans for the Invasion of Port Moresby
RAAF Meteorologists Under Threat of Japanese Advance
More Air Raids on Port Moresby
The Story of the Hudson
A Blow to Morale
More Air Raids but No 75 Squadron Kittykawks Arrive
Japanese Attempt to Invade Port Moresby by Sea
Japanese Submarines Attack Sydney
Attack on MV MacDhui
Return to Australia
The Meteorologists' Contribution
Chapter 4: Allied Air Force HQ and RAAF Command, Brisbane
Chapter 5: Japan Surrenders and We Are Demobilised
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Appendix 1: References
Appendix 2: Milestones
Appendix 3: Papers Published in Tropical Weather Research Bulletins
Appendix 4: Radiosonde Observations 1941–46
Index
Search
Help
Contact us
Return to Australia
RAAF records indicate that I arrived in Townsville on 3 July and left, presumably by train, on 11 July 1942. Records indicated that I arrived at 3 Recruit Centre, Brisbane in July and joined Allied Air Headquarters on 27 July. I am not sure of the exact date that I left Port Moresby but I have a hazy memory of being transported from Port Moresby to Townsville on a rough and ready Liberty ship. The Liberty ships were the mass-produced cargo vessels developed by Henry Kaiser on the west coast of the USA.The Meteorologists' Contribution
Our forecasting services in support of the Allied air forces in the South-west Pacific were severely hampered by the primitive nature of our knowledge of atmospheric processes in the tropics and the lack of observations of wind, temperature and humidity in the upper air. Inadequate food, somewhat debilitating climatic conditions, the uncertainty of the military position in Papua-New Guinea, and the absence of information regarding the action we should take in the event of a Japanese landing, all contributed to a feeling of isolation. In spite of these difficulties we maintained our meteorological program.Our situation was relatively secure and comfortable when compared with the dangers and discomforts experienced by flying and ground crews of the Catalina, Hudson, Kittyhawk, Short Empire 'C' Class and DC-3 RAAF aircraft, who exhibited great daring and courage in their efforts to stem the Japanese advance. The inexperienced militiamen on the Kokoda track also performed magnificently under extremely difficult conditions. These soldiers and airmen were a very special breed of Australian whose exploits rival those of the ANZAC forces in World Wars I and II.
Despite the difficulties, RAAF meteorologists in Singapore, Darwin, Broome, Timor, Ambon, Tulagi, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Port Moresby strove to provide the best possible meteorological service for Allied Air Forces.
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© 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
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