Radiosondes

This reasonably comprehensive network over the Australian continent was improved by the opening of radiosonde stations at Carnarvon in July 1961, Cobar. in May 1962, Forrest in February 1956, Giles in October 1956, Halls Creek in May 1962, Honiara in August 1958, Lae in October 1956, Maralinga in August 1955, Mirikata in February 1959 and Willis Island in June 1960. The activation of some of these additional 10 stations was hastened by the requirements of the AWRE atomic tests in Australia, which also saw British radiosonde observations at the Monte Bello Islands.

The opening of the Giles station involved a major expedition by a party from the Department of Supply, accompanied by V. J. (Vic) Bahr. Their exploits are recorded in the film Balloons and Spinifex. The Bureau's Public Affairs Sub-section holds a videocopy.

In January 1956 the radiosonde station at Amberley was replaced by another at Eagle Farm, and that at Rathmines by another at Williamtown/Newcastle. Radiosonde observations at Heard Island ceased in October 1954 when the ANARE base closed, but those at Macquarie Island continued. New radiosonde stations commenced operation on the Antarctic continent at Mawson in June 1955, at Wilkes in February 1959 (Wilkes station was later abandoned and operations transferred to a new station, Casey, a few kilometres away) and Davis in April 1959. The French made radiosonde observations on Amsterdam Island from April 1951 to December 1965.

The operation of Bill Brann's Central Office Instrument Section in the Dwyer years was facilitated by additional engineers. As explained in Chapter 3 Geoff Goodman had been of great assistance in overcoming delays in bringing the 277 radars into operation. Reg Stout in his reminiscences in Metarch Papers No 8, 1996, tells how Len Dwyer, impatient at the delays, had informed Bill Brann and Reg that he wished Reg to give the highest priority to advancing the program.

The other engineers who joined the Instrument Section in the Dwyer years were J. P. Ellis, who had joined the Bureau as an observer (radio) in 1954 and after completing a diploma in radio engineering, commenced working as an engineer in 1956, taking over responsibility of electronic maintenance in 1958 as an engineer grade 3, and Dave Langford, a PMG cadet engineer who graduated with honours at the University of Melbourne in 1956 and joined the Bureau in 1960 with responsibility for electronic development.

Bureau of Meteorology