Labuan Island

The proximity of the Japanese to the strip delayed establishment of the base operations section with which met was to be housed, but the needs of transport aircraft caused the section to open for business beneath a tarpaulin slung from the base of the control tower—an arrangement that lasted for several days until the wooden framework of the operations building was erected. Prospect of a wait for fittings did not appeal, so, with forecasting requirements temporarily at a minimum the weather men proceeded to scrounge timber from nearby shattered buildings. This, plus the carpentry skill of the men resulted in the meteorological office being completed and fully operational in remarkably quick time. Foresight at Morotai in obtaining masonite assisted in no small measure in interior finishing. Incidentally, this masonite originally formed the floor boards of a stage erected in anticipation of a concert by Miss Gracie Fields, but her failure to appear a few days before the departure from Morotai was considered sufficient excuse to dismantle the stage in the interests of the impending operations.

Japanese resistance in a pocket some three quarters of a mile from the strip rendered night work somewhat exhilarating, as there was always the prospect of a breakthrough. Work during the nocturnal hours was consequently carried out under the protection of air defence squadron guards outside the building and an AIF machine gun post in a gully 200 yards to the rear. On several occasions personnel were advised by the army to 'give it away' for the night, and on two of these evenings some Japanese personnel managed to pass through the cordons around the pocket but were eliminated next morning. Originally, the theodolite was left on the mounting some 50 yards from the building, but trigger happy guards considered it too Japanese looking in the moonlight, so it was removed at night for their peace of mind and the unit's fear for valuable equipment.

Bureau of Meteorology