Summary of Activities and Developments in D.Met.S. to mid-1943 (continued)

1. Arising out of the recommendation of the Conference representing the three arms of the Defence Service, the Defence Committee has recommended, and the Minister of Defence has approved, that during war, the Meteorological Service should be maintained intact as an organisation serving all three arms, and that professional and administrative officers should not be permitted to accept service with the Navy, Army or Air ormations in a combatant capacity.

   It has been further recommended and approved that administrative and professional officers of the Meteorological Branch should be included in the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve with appropriate rank, and that during war, the organisation should come under the control of the Air Board in matters of policy, etc. Interior administration and control will rest with the present administrative organisation.

2. . . .
3. The recommendations are based on the desirability of the meteorological organisation being mobile, enabling detachment of Met. units for service anywhere in Australia, adjacent islands or territories as circumstances require, with RAAF formations and mobile army formations. It is not intended that this liability should extend to service overseas . . . [Author's note: a somewhat ambiguous statement!]
4. . . .
5. It will be observed from the foregoing that final details have yet to be settled, but I should be glad if you would kindly inform me at once:
   1. Whether you are prepared to accept service in a meteorological unit of the RAAF as proposed; and,
   2. Whether you are prepared to serve, as circumstances require, as Meteorological Officer with RAAF and Army formations in Australia and adjacent islands and territories.

W. S. Watt
Commonwealth Meteorologist.

Bureau of Meteorology