At that time I developed an interest in ballroom dancing and formed a firm relationship with Lorna, whom I married after the war in July 1946. We acquired a farmlet at Warrandyte, an outer suburb of Melbourne. Without Lorna's support I would have never been able to carry out the 160 major installations throughout Australia and neighbouring islands for which I was responsible during and after the war.

Lorna looked after the cows, calves, lambs and vegetables; not to mention the four, and later five, children. When I returned home after absences lasting on an average of four to five weeks, everything at home was in good shape. She saw to it that I was never worried by what was happening on the farm. Her letters were always bright and happy.

Let me now return to my story in the RAAF. After completing the wireless course in Melbourne I was posted to Sydney for radar training. Having successfully passed these courses I was posted to Milingimbi Island in the Northern Territory. There I developed sandfly poisoning and was flown to Darwin where I remained in hospital for five weeks for treatment.

I was then posted to Darwin and was responsible for meteorological radio gear and worked with the Americans on their Friez radiosonde equipment. Later I was engaged in converting the gun laying radar at Lee Point so it could be used for meteorological wind finding.

Reg Stout and wife Lorna enjoying retirement on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Bureau of Meteorology