| Show Soldiers s Trained Tl as Weather W Observers vel s sTo To Assist Army in Mapping Plans Information Important to Bombers The strategic and tactical Importance of weather pre pre- predictions predictions dictions both short and long range in waging the present war cannot be overestimated This is particularly true in regions of the world where rapidly changing weather situations are characteristic throughout the year Over the Atlantic ocean and in Europe changing weather is prevalent in latitudes from the foot of Italy northward In eastern Asia Asiat significant and frequent weather changes occur I throughout the year in lati lati- latitudes latitudes latitudes tudes from Burma northward while over the North Pacific ocean this is true from a line running from Tokyo and Los Angeles northward Both Ber Ber- Berlin Berlin Berun lin un and Tokyo lie within the areas where the weather ele cle- element clement dc- dc ment is of importance the year around Therefore any successful strategy aiming a ablow ablow ablow blow at the heart of our ene ene- enemies enemies enemies mies must include the weather we er factor To this end courses have been es es- established es- es established tabU shed to train personnel for weather work In all aU parts of the world Among these courses are those designed to train enlisted men menas menas menas as weather observers enlisted men menas menas menas as forecasters to assist the weather officers a weather reconnaissance squadron training course and an aviation meteorological cadet course In using the weather factor to de de- determine det de- de determine I termine t the effectiveness of the air- air ground team or the co ordination of land sea and air forces the army air forces have evolved a few simple rules which have in part been veri yen verified verIfied fied fled from a study of the strategy and tactics employed by the enemy Clear Dry Weather Permits Attack by Ground Air-Ground Team 1 1 In clear dry weather the air- air ground team can launch an attack most effectively Under these condi condi- conditions conditions conditions the attackers must have air superiority These conditions per per- permit permit permit mit the use of all aU types of air sup sup- support support support port minimize the problems of ob ob- observation observation and recognition of friendly and enemy aircraft and troops and Insure the maximum mobility of ground forces 2 Dry weather with low clouds and good visibility permits limited ground air-ground operations The types of attack by supporting aircraft are restricted This kind of weather is fairly favorable to the operation oper of aircraft carriers even In areas con con- controlled controlled trolled by land based aircraft since the field of vision of the patrolling trolling pa aircraft is greatly restricted 3 Dry weather with extremely low clouds and conditions producing rather poor visibility can be used ef ef- effectively effectively ef- ef effectively for the consolidation of scattered ground units or the move move- movement ment of ground forces Into a position position position tion for attack These conditions even with rain are favorable for the movement of an nn aircraft carrier into a position for attack when the weather er improves In both cases the at at- attacking attackIng attacking tacking forces are relatively free from observation or attack I This war has shown that a de de- detailed de- de detailed tailed knowledge of existing weather conditions over the theater of opera operations over enemy territory and fre fre- frequently frequently fre- fre frequently over the friendly zone of the interior may be of great value to officers directing or planning cam cam- campaigns campaigns or movements of personnel motor vehicles aircraft or supplies Usually the Ule future weather is of more value than present weather In planning but for certain types of op op- operations the current weather infer infer- information Information mation may be valuable Information Information Information tion such as this is needed to cor cor- correct correct correct for weather effects on range and deflection of projectiles drift of airplanes and on the speed and di dl- direction direction of sound travel It is of use useIn useIn In 10 handling captive balloons and in landing and take off of airplanes Reports Advise Army of Sudden Changes in Weather The primary purpose of the army air forces weather service is to pro pro- provide provide provide vide reasonable accurate forecasts of future weather wC A knowledge of present weather we conditions is for formost formost formost most types of operations of little value If sudden marked changes are pending and forecasts of the changes chan ts are not available AU All branches of the army need weather forecasts An army that conducts c l operations without keeping Its staff starr advised of prospective 4 4 The two men arc are about to release a raLlia This little in instrument in- in instrument instrument strument when hen carried aloft by the balloon will transmit radio readings of pressure temperature and hu hu- humidity humidity to a station below There is also a parachute attached to bring the instrument back 4 S S 'S t 1 S i S 'S S p. p 1 i The weather forecaster must al al- always always al- al always ways keep in mind a chronological history of the weather passing his bis station This soldier Is looking over the weather maps to obtain a pic plc- picture picture ture tune of what has taken place in the previous Here lIere the men are arc obtaining tem tem- temperature temperature and humidity readings The Theman Theman Theman man on the left is whirling a sling in order to determine the relative humidity and dew point weather changes is imposing a n se se- serious serious Serious rious handicap on itself The per per- personnel personnel personnel equipment and supplies of a afield afield afield field army are usually not well pro pro- protected protected against inclement weather we A squall a thunderstorm a heavy rain or a strong wind seldom passes p over a temporary army camp or bivouac without doing damage Freezing weather coming on sud sud- suddenly suddenly denly generally causes damage to equipment and supplies and discern discern- discomfort discomfort fort to personnel The influence fn of weather wea ther may fre fre- frequently frequently fre- fre frequently be present in military ma ma- maneuvers m maneuvers l- l seeking to gain surprise in their execution In air nir operations restricted visibility and adverse weather conditions serve to provide cover for attacking aircraft during the approach to the target and aid surprise assaults An effective cloud layer at an altitude suited to the type of ot attack which is planned pl pro pro- provides provides vides an ideal cover for approach approach- approaching ing aircraft Weather affects the planning and execution of all aircraft missions Lack of weather information may cause frequent failures of missions and many losses of planes and per per- sonnet In general every time a flight mission is conducted the flight commander should have an knowledge of weather conditions to to be expected during the flight other other- otherwIse otherwise wise both personnel and equipment may be subjected to unnecessary hazard All army air forces weather fore fore- forecasting forecasting forecasting casting stations furnish medium and short range forecasts Short range forecasts are the most accurate type of forecasts made Therefore they I should be given to every flight com com- commander commander commander mander just prior to his take These forecasts should give the weather conditions to be encountered encountered encountered including staW sta of the weather that is whether the sky is overcast or clear or with broken or scattered clouds the type and intensity of pre pre- precipitation the height of the ceiling the tile visibility the wind speed and direction both at the surface surl and andaloft andaloft andaloft aloft any hazards to flight such as fog icing areas fronts etc and any special phenomena such as ns torna torna- does Medium range forecasts are arc used for planning flight operations Also short and medium range fore fore- forecasts forecasts forecasts casts are necessary In the case of ofa ofa ofa a very long flight requiring 8 to 10 hours or more for completion For Forlong Forlong Forlong long flights if the weather is at nt all uncertain or changeable the flight commander should hould endeavor to ob ob- obtain obtain tain tam if possible one or more addi addi- additional additional short range forecasts by ra ra- radio radio ra- ra radio dio especially for the period of land land- landing landing landing ing and for the terminal of the flight Pilots must know the ceiling amount of cloudiness and types of clouds to be encountered on a flight for the entire route in order to plan and ad execute the flight properly If U Ifa Ua Lia a cloud ceiling exists the pilot must either fly underneath it ft fly on instruments instruments instruments ments in the clouds or climb through and fly on top of the clouds Fly Fly- Flying Flying Flying ing at low altitude is usually haz baa hazardous and particularly so at night i or in hilly or mountainous country with low visibility Low ceiling or Instrument weather at the point of takeoff should ordinarily be no hin hin- hindrance hindrance drance to individual planes provid provid- provided ed the weather at nt the final destina destina- destination destination destination tion is suitable suit ble for safe descent However instrument weather offers a very Tery definite handicap to a for for- formation or- or mation of planes The types of clouds also should be considered if U I Instrument flight is to be made m as ns they will indicate the smoothness or roughness of the air nir Instrument I flight In clouds where thunderstorms I or Icing may be encountered In In- Involves Involves involves a hazard to the aircraft that i must be balanced against the mill mili military tary importance of continuing the mission Thus the pilot is much concerned with the ceiling and clouds to be found on every flight Clear Weather Is Needed For Reconnaissance Aviation The primary mission of observation observation l- l tion and reconnaissance aviation be be- being being being ing to observe and report their operations are facilitated u by high ceilings and ann excellent visibility over the area where they operate Recon Recon- Reconnaissance Reconnaissance Reconnaissance aviation must operate oper great distances over enemy terri tern territory terrItory tory where weather conditions may mayor or may not be known Whether or not this weather is known will de de- depend depend de- de depend pend in a n large measure upon the reconnaissance aviation itself since one of its missions will be to make weather from points I reports over enemy territory Bombardment Bomb avi avi- aviation aviation aviation will also make a n certain num num- number number ber ben of weather reports and if 11 these are sufficient in hi number and cover enough territory it may be possible to make fairly accurate forecasts of weather for the following day The capabilities of reconnaissance aviation in the executions of its tasks are definitely limited by weather particularly in the matter of visibility ty and wind Their effect must therefore always be considered In planning missions to determine radi radi- radius radius us of operation and number of air air- aircraft aircraft aircraft craft required Bombardment aviation has h ls proba proba- probably probably probably bly the greatest need for weather in in- in formation Bombardment units may and frequently will be called upon to perform their own 7 sance Like reconnaissance units they may operate over great dis dis- distances dis- dis distances and return to their home airdromes with gas tanks nearly empty A forecast before take off of weather to be encountered upon return is essential Bombardment aircraft may pass through much bad b ld weather en route to and from their objective but to avoid wasted ef ef- effort effort fort it is very important that the weather be suitable at nt the objective for bombing and that this be known before take Objectives should be chosen when possible based on the weather forecast that is objectives should be chosen for which weather conditions will be most suitable Within the theater of operations there will normally normay operate an air task force and a ground force Tho The Theair air task t force may have its units scattered throughout the theater There are one or more air bases one or more sub-air sub bases and the various combat units If cr er reports are arc required from points within an area where no weather stations are located special observer er stations must be established at these points Such weather observer er stations will be established where needed within both the combat zone and the communications 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