Birtwistle recalled how the Met. boys livened up a masthead parade one Sunday:

'When the wind was in the right direction during a church parade, we found an excuse to send up a meteorological balloon. We weighted the balloon to give it a very slow rate of ascent. It drifted almost at ground level, rising slowly above the parade ground and its assembled congregation. We believe the CO was aware that this was not a normal balloon flight, but he too, obviously welcomed the diversion. The Geraldton clergy took these services as honorary padres. Though somewhat distracted at first by the silent manifestation of the balloon, they subsequently saw the humour of the situation.'[60]

Broome

Keith Hannay was appointed as Met. officer to the advanced operations base at Broome on his return from the invaded Far East. At the time, Broome was in a state of desolation after a heavy attack on 2 March 1942, when 17 moored flying boats were destroyed. Nearly all the civilian population was evacuated. The meteorological office with most of its equipment intact continued to function in its normal location about one quarter of a mile from the aerodrome. Except for the MacRobertson Miller Aviation Company, which was continuing its run from Perth to Darwin, there were few other aircraft using the aerodrome. The meteorological network was collected through RAAF signals and the local Post Office. Civil Aeradio was working across the road. There was another raid on 20 March, the Japs using medium bombers', Hannay recalled. 'These cratered the aerodrome. Several Zeros also strafed the area and set on fire the only aircraft on the aerodrome at the time.' There were one or two minor alarms.[61] On March 20, RAAF Headquarters moved the meteorological office temporarily to Port Hedland under the control of Flight-Lieutenant J. Hall, Hannay having been posted to Melbourne.

Bureau of Meteorology