Independent Forecaster

To the best of my knowledge I was the only army officer qualified as an independent forecaster. An independent forecaster can issue forecasts on his own authority for any purpose. He has dependent forecasters available to help him, but he makes the final decisions. Independent forecasters were employed at Royal Air Force Group Headquarters. So I was posted to 84 Group Royal Air Force. Now there were two armies working side by side - First Canadian Army and Second British Army and they were under Montgomery. In the Met Office part of the job was to give a daily briefing to the general officer commanding the army.

Mr. Aitken discusses becoming an independent forecaster, the highest level of military meteorologist, and describes having to brief the Allied commander on a daily basis.

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.