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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With the transfer of meteorological staff to the Air Force following establishment of D.Met.S., the Divisional Meteorologist (Mr A. G. Akeroyd) became commanding officer of the Perth weather bureau, with the rank of wing commander. His deputy at first was Fl Lt (later Sqn Ldr) W. L. Nelson, who remained on service at the bureau until shortly after Japan entered the war, when he was replaced by FO (later Sqn Ldr) J. (Doc) Hogan.
In March 1942 an United States Army Air Forces meteorological liaison officer (Lt Kelly) was attached to the staff of the bureau, which in the following month commenced the issue of daily weather forecasts to American Navy air patrols operating off the coast of Western Australia. Four United States Navy aerographers were attached to the staff of the bureau in June, to assist in the work of decoding reports and in the preparation of weather charts used in forecasts for the American aerial sea patrol, while in the following month the US Navy set up its own reporting station at Albany.
By this time the Indian Ocean area had become increasingly important in the wartime strategy, with enemy surface and undersea vessels, together with various types of aircraft, active over the whole expanse. March 1943 saw a special ocean forecasting service established for the guidance of American Navy air patrols operating from West Australian bases at Geraldton and Learmonth, but it was two months more before the inauguration of non-stop flights between Perth and Colombo brought about the fullest development in this branch of forecasting.
The American staff attached to Perth weather bureau was increased during May 1943 to comprise one officer, one chief petty officer and four aerographers. In the same month, Fl Lt J. (Doc) Hogan, who will be remembered as the first Australian forecaster to operate in New Guinea (at Port Moresby), was transferred from Pearce aerodrome to the bureau to forecast for the non-stop trans-Indian Ocean service, commenced by Wing Commander Scott, of the Royal Air Force. Organisation of this special service was carried out at a conference in Melbourne during June, attended by Wing Commander Grimes, who had travelled from India for the purpose, and by Fl Lt J. (Doc) Hogan.
Qantas commenced a regular trans-Indian Ocean air service in July, using meteorological forecasts and analyses regularly exchanged between Perth and Colombo, while in the following month the United States Navy established its own forecasting section at the Perth bureau to service aircraft of Patrol Wing 10. It continued operation at this location for a short period only, transferring in October 1943 to the American naval base at Crawley, WA.
Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Directorate of Meteorological Services (D.Met.S)
People in Bright Sparcs - Akeroyd, Arthur Gordon; Hogan, John (Doc)
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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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