INVASION TASK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24930, 27 June 1944, Page 7

INVASION TASK

WEATHER IfESEAKCH DATA OF HALF A CENTURY Many practised observers played a part in the detailed research of weather lore, which was an essential feature of the Allied invasion*plan. One of them, Lieutenant-Commander G. H. Kimble, .11.N.V.1t., is at present in Auckland in the course of further meteorological studies involving a trip around the world. The peacetime occupation of Lieu-tenant-Commander Kimble was that of geographer attached to the Heading University. He is the author of several geographical and meteorological publications, and a careful student of invasion possibilities might have found much of interest in the chapter "Best Months for Holidays" in a little book entitled "The Weather" which Lieu-tenant-Commander Kimble wrote in collaboration with another author concerning conditions along the English coast, and which, incidentally, has just become available to the New Zealand public. Many factors of tides, moon, sen. wind strength, exposure to prevailing winds and swell, and condition ol beaches we re involved in the successful landing of an invasion force, stated I,i eu ten an t-CJoin ma nder Kim file. K very possible contingency had to lie considered. Even then it was not merely suflieicnt to place a force on the bearhos. It had to move inland and the condition of the ground over which it must travel to consolidate its position was of an importance equal to the conditions which existed at the scene ol the actual landing.

To obtain the necessary data weather records over a. period of 20 years and in sorno cases up to 50 years wero carefullv studied and analysed and daily reports over a period of two years were prepared and tabulated for all manner of places. The best months of the year on the invasion coast were lrom May to September. There were opportunities earlier, hut it was not until May that the chances became good of carrying out the invasion on a given day. Actually, the forecasting of the weather for the invasion occupied two stages, firstly, the long-term statistical appreciation of the conditions on the coast involved, and, secondly, the shortterm forecast of day-to-day conditions. Jn the latter instance the opportunities occurring up to two to three days in advance wero all that could be expected of the forecast. Even then all sorts of factors were involved before the plans of all services could be dovetailed for the set day. An Aucklander. Lieutenant G. L. Hogben, D.S.C., was one of those at Admiralty headquarters who was engaged in the preparation of the final forecasts. While not himself directly concerned, Lieutenant-Commander Kimble mentioned that the Admiralty had asked for all holidaymakers' photographs of the European and the Mediterranean coasts. There had been an enormous response and many millions of photographs were obtained. Their study yielded much valuable information, some of which had actually facilitated attacks on special objectives.