Predicting the Weather

Heroes Remember

Predicting the Weather

Transcript

Any special operation like the use of smoke, got a lot of attention and we would be very particular about the winds and the local topography. We also used to forecast the height of waves in water, if we were close to the sea. We would give them that information. The forecasts were quite, followed a particular pattern. We were getting hourly observations from all over the British Isles. We got once or twice daily information from specially equipped aircraft that flew out from the British Isles and back again and they reported the weather all the way. We, thanks to Enigma, the code, German code had been broken and we got all the European weather observations.

Description

Mr. Aitken describes the different variables and information sources necessary to compile a weather report

John Aitken

John Aitken was born June 4, 1917, in Kenora, Ontario. He was the eldest of three children. His family moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta, where his father worked as a flour miller. After graduating high school at age seventeen, Mr. Aitken became a teacher and then school principal. He graduated from university in 1942. Mr. Aitken initially enlisted in the artillery, but after his arrival in England was selected to train as a meteorologist. As the war progressed he achieved the highest level possible, Independent Forecaster. After the war, Mr. Aitken continued a distinguished military career, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant.

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