This volume tells the story of possibly the most unique metamorphosis—that of a Commonwealth Government departmental service that changed over almost in its entirety from a widespread civil function to become an integral part of the war machine on land and sea and in the air.

At the outbreak, the Australian meteorological organisation was a long established branch of the Department of the Interior, providing weather services of many varied types to the community. By direction of the War Cabinet, it passed to the control of the Department of Air in July 1940 with the designated task of providing all meteorological services required by the armed services, while at the same time continuing to meet civil requirements.

Experience proved the wisdom of this step. As the Directorate of Meteorological Services, RAAF, the organisation brought into operation a network of forecasting and observing stations stretching from Borneo to the Southern Ocean, from lonely Cocos Island to New Britain, making possible efficient operation of the amazingly long air-routes and sea lanes that contributed so much to victory. 'Met' went into the forward lines with the Army to provide essential ballistic information for our gunners and the operational services required for offensive developments in the island areas of the South-West Pacific theatre. Through naval wireless installations the Directorate supplied the weather information required by our fighting ships throughout the wide South-West Pacific area and in the adjoining regions of the Indian Ocean. Long range forecasting, sometimes for more than a week ahead, was initiated for operational planning. Many operations, large and small, were planned and carried through with the weather factors carefully assessed in the timing of movements by land, sea and air.

Badge of the RAAF Meteorological Service

Meanwhile, the civil community in Australia was provided with all normal weather services, save those which security regulations curtailed, and a sustained programme of training and of objective research was carried on at central headquarters of the Directorate in Melbourne and at the combined analysis unit at General Headquarters, Brisbane.

In his War Report the Chief of the Air Staff (Air Marshal Jones) included the following appreciation of the wartime work of his Meteorological Service:

"It earned", he said, "and retained, the confidence of Allied operational commanders and of associated Allied weather organisations."

H. N. Warren

Director
1 December 1947

The general area of operation of the RAAF Meteorological Service during World War II is depicted here. Its personnel served at most of the locations shown, and also at other locations not shown.

Bureau of Meteorology