| The Weather Division, Washington D.C. Long-range | | | | sound-range techniques for locating enemy batteries. |
| forecasts and climate data are prepared for the air, | | | | Close air support for the ground operations also was |
| ground and service forces. Nerve center and | | | | made possible by the weathermen serving with |
| administrative clearinghouse of the Service was at | | | | advanced units of the army combat troops. If an |
| headquarters in Asheville, N. C. Headquarters had the | | | | amphibious operation was being planned, weathermen |
| job of sending trained and fully equipped personnel | | | | of the Oceanographic Service were called upon for |
| overseas, and also exercised control command over | | | | the best possible data on sea surf and swell conditions. |
| weather squadrons and regions in continental United | | | | If a land operation was to be made, meteorologists |
| States, and in most of the Western Hemisphere. While | | | | were asked to forecast soil trafficability for unpaved |
| the Weather Service is connected with the Air | | | | roads and open ground that would be used by |
| Forces-for obvious reasons since airplanes are | | | | armored and motorized columns. This latter was one |
| exposed to many varieties of weather in a short | | | | of t h e most difficult jobs weathermen had to do. |
| period of time-the meteorological information was | | | | Proper performance of such an assignment required a |
| made available and was used extensively by other | | | | detailed study of rainfall and evaporation and their |
| branches of the service as well. Field and anti-aircraft | | | | effects on various kinds of soils over a six-month |
| artillery batteries received four complete ballistic | | | | period. To supply this information, weathermen did not |
| messages daily from the Weather Service. The | | | | wait until just before the operation. Instead, they drew |
| gunners found these helped to improve accuracy, | | | | detailed soil maps of future battle areas, and |
| especially in their long-range, high-altitude fire. | | | | supplemented these with all available data and spot |
| Weather reports also helped the artillery in its | | | | observations made when the time came. |
