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WREP Comdr, Subj:
(UNCLASSI FIED)"
cEEREAEDTe
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“Report on Survey Trip to Outlying Weather Islands
Upon arrival at Travis AFB, Major Bettis, JTF Liaison Offioer, was
contacted and arrangements mado for further transportation by MATS to Hickam
AFB, Also, on the basis of information from Major Hebner, a movement
schedule for WREP persomel was prepared. Lt Col Slater, Commander, Teas
ther Central Elenent, Provisional, arrived 6 Septezber at Travis AFB.
He
and I eon solidated our movement schedules and sent them to Lt Col Barnoy,
Commander, Sth Weather Squadron (Mobile), Tinker AFB, Oklahoma elong with
@ report on supply prooedures agreed upon with Major Hebnor. Col Slater
and Tlarrived at Hickam AFB 8 September where we were met by Lt Col Stanley, JT Liaison Officer.
Col Stanley arranged for transportation to our
quarters at Fort DeRussy and a conference with Lt Col Bon ot, JTF Staff
Weather Officer, who had arrived the day previous from Washington 25, D C.
Barly next morning, Col Bonnot, Col Slater, and I journeyed to
Wheeler Field for a conference with Dr Palmer and officers of the Cambridge
Research Center, who are studying tropical meteorology at that location.
The major topics of discussion was determination of size and charts to
use in the Weather Central. Points concerning my organisation (WREP)
were observing procedures and necessary supplies. Both of the latter were
readily agreed upon by all concerned.
After a weather briefing, Col
Bomot and I visited Captain Knickerbocker, USN, JTF Seven Je4 at Fort
Shafter. A major point discussed was a request that the Commander of the
LST which will transport weather island equipment to and from the islands,
be requested to sig for the equipment on a manifest by boxes, This is
desired since it has been found that some of the equipment on previous
operations disappeared during the transportation process. Other relatively
minor problems were discussed and readily agreed upom. After lunch at
the MATS Terminal, Col Bonnot and I visited the 657 Strategic heccnnaissance
Squadron,
To my surprise, I found that I was considered somewhat of an
authcrity on rawinsonde operations since I came from the 6th ‘eather Squadron
(Mobile) which has produced some outstanding rawinsonde results during the
past year. Some of the simple procedures we have been using was of great
interest to them.
However, sinee much of the discussion which developed
later had little significance concerning WREP operation, I left to visit
the base supply officer who holds all of the previous weather island equipement. I met Captain “alker the BSO, but most of the rest of the afternoon
-disoussed the equipment with Mr DeFord, the chief civilian in Base Supply.
I made arrangements to see the equipment the mext morning.
‘he next day,
Mr DeFord introduced me to Mr DeMello, who had been appointed project officer
for the weather island equipment. Mr DeMello has been personally in charge
of the segregation, inventory, inspection, and reconditioning of all the
equipment.
I had previously been informed that considerable delay had been
enoountered in appointing someone for the above purpose and was greatly
ae
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