New Pacific Stations

Both Kiriwina and Goodenough meteorological staffs were given plenty of opportunities for operational flying. At Kiriwina they made frequent weather reconnaissance flights over the Solomon Sea in B-25 (Mitchell) aircraft of the United States Fifth Bomber Command until these ceased in December 1943. Each flight lasted three and a half hours and RAAF weather men who took part were—FO McIntyre, 16 flights; FO Kerr, 11; FO C. W. Rodd, 16; LAC (later FO) J. K. Ashton, 7; Cpl (later WO) E. Ashbrook, 6 and Cpl (later Sgt) M. E. Wotherspoon, 3. At Goodenough the meteorological staff members who did most operational flying were Sqn Ldr J. N. McRae, Fl Lt E. A. Mizon and FO G. Powell.

The British bomber command initiated weather reconnaissance flights after several of its aircraft were adversely affected by the elements during raids on Rabaul and permission for RAAF meteorological personnel to participate as weather observers was given because of the importance of the area to Australian air operations. They proved an invaluable aid to forecasting.

Interest in the flights by weather men was not confined to professional aspects. For instance, on one flight the met man had the experience of ranging down the Bougainville coast at 50 feet and circling Empress Augusta Bay, with its fleet of small ships and puffs of smoke inland, on the day following the first American landing. On another occasion units of the United States fleet were observed, with balloon barrages floating over the aircraft carriers as they headed north to engage a Japanese task force and on still another a few rounds of 75 mm cannon were fired at an enemy radar station on the southern tip of New Ireland. Frequently the weather planes sighted Japanese aircraft that were apparently running a courier service from the Solomons to New Britain and it seemed that these machines were as anxious to avoid contact with the Mitchells as were the latter with them.

The greatest opportunity was lost when the crew on an early morning reconnaissance failed to identify an enemy submarine. Some 50 miles south-east of Gasmata what appeared to be a lugger was sighted but only when it began to sink beneath the surface was the mistake realised. A sudden 90 degree turn and the Mitchell roared full bore at dot feet to the disappearing enemy but no trace could be found. Two days later RAAF Kittyhawks claimed this submarine as a victim in Gasmata harbour.

Bureau of Meteorology