War History of the Australian Meteorological Service
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: D.Met.S.—Australia's Wartime Weather Service
Chapter 2: The Weather Factor in Warfare
Chapter 3: Met in the Retreat
Chapter 4: Met in the Advance
Chapter 5: Meteorology in Aviation
Chapter 6: Central Forecasting Services
Chapter 7: Met With the Army
Chapter 8: Research and Personnel Training
Chapter 9: Instrumental Development and Maintenance
Chapter 10: Scientific Developments in the RAAF Meteorological Service
Chapter 11: Divisional Bureaux and Their Work
Organisation of State Bureaux on War Basis/ Additional Functions Undertaken
Communication and Censorship Problems
Operations at Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart
Appendix 1: List of Reports Provided by D.Met.S. for Advances Operational Planning and Other Purposes
Appendix 2: List of Service Personnel RAAF Meteorological Service
Appendix 3: List of Civilian Personnel Who Worked Together with Service Personnel of the RAAF Meteorological Service
Appendix 4: List of Locations at which RAAF Meteorological Service Personnel Served
Index
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Operations at Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart
SydneyApart from its normal function, Sydney weather bureau found its most important wartime task in the supply of meteor telegrams, comprising details of ballistic winds and temperatures, to established garrison batteries and experimental or training units. These reports were issued several times daily to both anti-aircraft and field battery units, while the bureau also provided field meteorological sections from its staff for duties at special training and calibration exercises. This was, of course, before mobile meteorological flights became available in the Sydney area.
Routine reports went to headquarters of coastal defences, for use by anti-aircraft and field artillery guns, and to headquarters of No 1 Division for dissemination to subsidiary battery points. In addition, meteors were calculated on some occasions for distant points, while survey regiments were usually the liaison for calibration shooting exercises. Intelligence headquarters at New South Wales Lines of Communication received coded reports of rainfall from the bureau, together with statements of fordability and trafficability of roads. Limited forecasts on chemical warfare conditions also were prepared.
Reports to the Navy increased over peacetime schedules, although in much the same form. Forecasts, however, extended to cover convoy duties, and also embraced the mercantile movements section of the RAAF, the United States Navy and Small Ships Section.
On the aviation side, reports and forecasts were supplied to headquarters of the Eastern Area Operational Branch, fighter sectors and radar units, and to most overseas aircraft engaged in flying the Sydney-New Zealand and Australia-New Caledonia-Suva air-routes.
With the many climatic difficulties experienced by operational units, and also by manufacturers engaged on production of wartime supplies, the statistical facilities of the bureau were strained to the utmost. Lectures on general meteorology, forecasting, climatology and the technical application of weather science to industry were given freely by members of the staff, as well as instruction of several untrained American meteorological units.
Wing Commander D. J. Mares, Divisional Meteorologist, was in charge of the bureau until his retirement in March 1945 when he was succeeded by Sqn Ldr B. W. Newman, who became acting Divisional Meteorologist. Incidentally, it was to Sqn Ldr Newman, as Assistant Divisional Meteorologist, that the task of organising all the defence activities of the bureau fell. He also undertook liaison between all the services and lecturing on meteorology to Army and Navy training units, RAAF aircrew reservists, the air training corps and volunteer air observers' corps.
People in Bright Sparcs - Mares, David John; Newman, Bernard William (Bernie)
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
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