Compilation of Notes and Manuals

Between October 1940 and March 1941, the RAAF Manual of Meteorology was compiled by Mr Dwyer, assisted by Fl Lt H. Newell, in order to serve as syllabus and reference in the training of pilots, navigators and air observers at service flying schools, air observers' schools and operational stations. Then followed Calculation of Upper Air Pressure, which appeared in early 1940, designed to set out the standard working practice, which was frequently requested by the Army proof experimental section for purposes of fuse testing.

In late 1940 and early 1941 various syllabi were prepared, mainly from the RAAF Manual of Meteorology, to provide for the successive stages of training air crew, conforming to the existing Empire air training scheme, but in July 1943 alterations were made and the syllabi of courses extended to cover nine categories of training schools—ATC, ITS, EFTS, SFTS, AOS, ANS, OTU, OS and Gas School. These at first were compiled in great detail, but subsequently modified into more general terms and the number reduced.

In April 1942 Notes on Cloud Observations by Pilot Balloon Theodolite was produced for training purposes, and in July, Instructional Course for Meteorological Assistants. Into the latter went notes that had been prepared for the first meteorological observers' course in 1938, together with various additions and modifications developed during training. An addendum to this volume, relating to local and standard times, was issued in March 1943.

Several more volumes appeared during 1944. In February, Handbook of Meteorological Cooperation with Artillery was published, representing a development of instructional notes for the use of meteorological staffs when called upon to provide data for artillery units that were first drawn up in 1937 by Messrs Hogan (1896–1970) and Cornish, but revised, enlarged and printed in book form, with working pro formae, by Messrs L. J. Dwyer and P. Squires in 1941. These same officers also had compiled a companion work, Handbook of Meteorological Cooperation with Sound Ranging Units, that was printed in 1941.

In March 1944 Sqn Ldr Forder, chief instructor in meteorology at D.Met.S. headquarters, collected notes on subjects developed by him during several years of instruction to trainee weather forecasters and bound them in one volume entitled Analysis and Forecasting in the South-West Pacific Area, which is regarded as a companion and extension to Principles and Practice of Forecasting, while in May 1944 Meteorological Handbook for Pilots and Navigators was selected as a suitable work for use in training these men. This was a reproduction of an English publication, and work on a supplement in which modification of parts to suit southern hemisphere conditions was commenced. It was printed in June 1945.

Bureau of Meteorology