Perth (continued)

What has just been written illustrates the complex problems which faced a public service, the chief function of which hitherto had been to supply always important weather advices to all sections of the community, but which now was a branch of the RAAF, committed to meet the requirements of the armed forces as first priority.

From early in the war, detailed ocean and coastal weather forecasts were supplied for the Navy. In March 1942, a USAAF meteorological liaison officer (Lieutenant Kelly) was attached to the Perth Divisional Office, and the issue of daily weather forecasts for US Navy air patrols off the coast of Western Australia commenced a month later. In June 1942, four US Navy aerographers were attached to the Bureau to assist in the work of decoding weather reports, and in the preparation of weather charts used for forecasts for the US aerial sea patrol. A further two USN aerographers established a reporting station at Albany (WA). In March 1943, a special ocean forecasting service for the guidance of the air patrols was inaugurated at Geraldton and Learmonth.

One of the most remarkable developments in the activities of the Perth Divisional Office occurred on 10 May 1943 as a result of the commencement of non-stop flights across the Indian Ocean between India and Perth. The first of these flights was made by Wing-Commander Scott of the Royal Air Force. In order to give special attention to this important new service, Flight-Lieutenant J. (Doc) Hogan was transferred from Pearce air base to the Divisional Office. On 31 May 1943, Wing-Commander Grimes, a RAF meteorological officer, arrived from India, and accompanied by Hogan, proceeded to Melbourne to attend a conference concerning the organisation of meteorological services for the new trans-Indian Ocean route. In July 1943, QANTAS commenced a regular trans-Indian Ocean service, and was serviced meteorologically by a regular interchange of weather forecasts, and analyses between Perth and Colombo. A special weather section was established at the Perth Divisional Office in August 1943 exclusively for this flight under the immediate control of Flight-Lieutenant Hogan.

Bureau of Meteorology