The Bismarck Sea Battle—1 March 1943 (continued)

Keith Hannay later recollected events at Darwin during his term in charge of the meteorological section there, taking over from Flight-Lieutenant John Lillywhite, who had been Acting-Area Meteorological Officer since October 1943. The Australian Regional Broadcasting Centre was at Birdum. Forecasting stations had been set up at Gove, Truscott and Fenton airfields. The operational requirements were forecasts for and advices from the Netherlands East Indies area for regular reconnaissance and strikes of various types, and for aerial photography. The normal transit and civilian requirements continued to be met. Fleet messages and Fleet forecasts were issued to the Navy, and, during 1944, to a mobile Meteorological Flight with the Army.[74]

Figure 10 RAAF Wirraway aircraft flying above large cumulus clouds, Darwin, 1943.

There were no more attacks on the mainland of Australia in this later period, 1944–45, but there were some enemy reconnaissance missions. A photographic Japanese Dinah aircraft was shot down by Spitfires in full view of a Meteorological Assistant at Truscott on one occasion.

The Japanese air-to-ground secret code had been broken, and weather reports were gleaned as a result. These reports were not given out to staff generally. Squadron-Leader Arch Shields described to me how he used to plot reports from the Japanese on a private chart, and how helpful he found them to be. Shields later succeeded Squadron-Leader Harry Ashton as OIC, Met. at No. 1 Tactical Air Force. He commented on the good sense of the Americans. Although they had a weather section of their own, most of the US aircrews came to the RAAF meteorological section for advice and briefing. Finally, the American commander said, 'Most of our boys seem to come to you. Why don't you take over the whole caboose?'—and so, said Arch Shields, 'we took over 11 US weather personnel'[75]

Bureau of Meteorology