Port Moresby to Milne Bay (continued)

There were, of course, times when things looked desperate. When the Japanese forces had reached Koitaki, for instance, all RAAF personnel at Port Moresby were told that there would be little or no chance of evacuation; every section was to make its own plans for escape. So far as the weather men were concerned, it was resolved that the officer in charge and a senior NCO should take the upper air equipment and join the field artillery as a mobile meteorological unit if the enemy actually reached the township, while plans were also made for other staff members to evacuate to Daru and thence, if possible, to the mainland, if such a move became necessary. Emergency packs, arms and ammunition were kept ready at the meteorological office, but, fortunately, were never needed.

Port Moresby weather office provided weather services and operational advice for the planes of 75 and 76 Fighter Squadrons in the Milne Bay battle, and for the Australian and American aircraft engaged in strafing the enemy on the Kokoda trail and dropping supplies to our forces.

Towards the end of January 1943, under instructions of D.Met.S., an inspection of the Milne Bay area was made by Fl Lt (later Sqn Ldr) J. L. Williams, who was then in charge at Port Moresby, and Fl Lt (later Sqn Ldr) J. S. Maher, to determine the most suitable site for a meteorological section which was to be the first established in Papua under wartime conditions. A month later the advance party of weather men under Fl Lt Maher arrived to set up the station which commenced operating on a restricted basis in March and swung into a full service a month later.

The Milne Bay weather section supplied locally based RAAF Hudson and Beaufort squadrons with forecasts for reconnaissance flights and bombing operations, for convoy duties and for air cover for the landings on Woodlark Island and Kiriwina Island (Trobriand group). Squadrons on photographic reconnaissance and interception work were similarly supplied, as well as Australian and American machines carrying out transport services to Port Moresby and the adjacent islands. Information was provided to the Naval authorities at Milne Bay covering local naval operations and services and included forecasts for the landings at Finschhafen. To the Army went climatological information and ballistic reports for the anti-aircraft and coastal guns.

Bureau of Meteorology