LANGWARRIN, VICTORIA, 1943-06-14. SUPPLY DROPPING FROM THE AIR. AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW ...

LANGWARRIN, VICTORIA, 1943-06-14. SUPPLY DROPPING FROM THE AIR. AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY RUGGED TERRAIN, IT BECAME NECESSARY TO EVOLVE NEW AND MORE EFFICIENT METHODS OF SUPPLYING EQUIPMENT, AMMUNITION, FOOD AND CLOTHING TO THE TROOPS. ONE TECHNIQUE WAS INVENTED BY MAJOR H.C. SNELL, DIRECTOR OF SALVAGE, LAND HEADQUARTERS, AND CALLED "SUSPENDED CATCHMENT AREA". THIS TECHNIQUE PROVED VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OPERATION BUT WAS TOO CUMBERSOME TO HANDLE IN THE FIELD UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. THE "SUSPENDED CATCHMENT AREA" CONSISTED OF AN AREA OF 2 INCH WIRE MESH 180 FEET SQUARE, SUSPENDED APPROXIMATELY 7 FEET FROM THE GROUND ON A SERIES OF PREFABRICATED TUBULAR STEEL POSTS. THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WEIGHED 13 TONS, BUT COULD BE BROKEN UP INTO MAXIMUM SIZED SECTIONS OF 40 POUNDS EACH TO FACILITATE AIR TRANSPORT. IT COULD BE ASSEMBLED BY NON TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN 3 HOURS. FIRST TRIAL AREA WAS SET UP AND TESTED AT LANGWARRIN, IN 1943-05 TO 1943-06. PHOTO OF SKETCH OF "SUSPENDED CATCHMENT AREA", SHOWING AVRO ANSON AIRCRAFT DROPPING SUPPLIES INTO AREA.