RESPONSIBLE TASK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 6

RESPONSIBLE TASK

N.Z. Officer Forecast D-Day Weather (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 3. One of the key men in a job of the utmost responsibility in the invasion was Instructor-Lieutenant Lawrence Ilogben, D.S.C., Auckland. As meteorological officer, he had to forecast the weather for D-day. The meteorological officer on General Eisenhower's staff took, the combined forecasts of the Royal .Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the United States Army Air Force, experts, which were discussed at telephone conferences, at which decisions. preferably unanimous, had to be reached. Lieut. Ilogben was one of tiie naval officers who took part iu these conferences.

The forecast dealt with wind. sea. and swell, which particularly concerned the navy, and also with cloud, which particularly concerned the air forces. The decision to postpone D-day for 24 hours resulted from this meteorologists’ conference. in which famous meteorologists, including American, Norwegian ami British experts, took part. The decision that the weather after 24 hours’ delay would be possible, if by no mentis perfect, for invasion. was surely the biggest meteorologists have ever had to make. .As it proved, the event justified the decision. For some time before and after D-day Ilogben and other meteorological officers worked 19 hours a day.

In line with other branches of science, meteorology has made considerable strides under the impetus of war, and the Admiralt.v uses techniques which have been introduced since the outbreak. Ilogben, who is n matlmmatiemn and a Rhodes Scholar, joined the navy from Oxford as an instruetor-lieutciuint. He specialized in meteorology from the outset, and was at sea till February lust year, serving in 11..M.5. Sheffield during the ehnse and destruction ■of the Bismarck and the bombardment of Genoa. He took part in several Arctic convoys, one Malta convoy, and the Nortli African invasion. He was awarded the D.S.C. early last year for his services in Arctic waters. He is the first, instructor ollieer Io win (his decoration. lie was transferred Io the Royal New Zealand Navy in 191-2. and was appointed to the Admiralty in l-’ebrimry. 191.“,.