The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
A small silk Communist Chinese flag. The early form of international symbol of Communist China consisting of a yellow five pointed star over a yellow hammer and sickle, is silk screened onto the red silk. All borders are sewn. The left hand vertical also has two cotton string loops sewn in.
This rare early example of a early Communist Chinese flag is associated with the service of Richard 'Dick' Cresswell of No.77 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force during the Korean War.
Creswell cannot recall exactly where he picked up this flag, but maintains it was between the initial advance into Korea towards the Chinese border in 1950 and before the first resultant massive Chinese counter-attack against the United Nations. His squadron was then based in Hamhung. This flag is representative of the significant fighting that Australians of all three service branches were involved in against the Communist Chinese forces in the early Korean War period.
Cresswell was born in Launceston, Tasmania on 27 July 1920. He enlisted in the RAAF at Potts Point, Sydney on 19 July 1938 and trained as a pilot. He was appointed Squadron Leader and posted to 77 Squadron on 20 April 1942. The Squadron had been formed in Pearce in Western Australia earlier in the year. In July of that year, the Squadron moved to Darwin and in February 1943 relocated to Milne Bay, New Guinea, the first of several bases in Oceania. Cresswell was appointed Wing Commander on 26 September 1944. He continued serving with the Squadron after the end of the Second World War. In 1946 the Squadron became part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan and were based at Iwakuni.
From July 1950 the Squadron played an active role in United Nations operations in Korea, relocating to Korea in October. During the Korean War, Cresswell received a number of awards including the US DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) and the US Air Medal. He received a DFC for 'Leadership of high order on 98 sorties 301 flying hrs', cited in the London Gazette on 8 January 1952, and Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17 January 1952.
Gold bullion embroidered RAAF wings of the 1937 - 1938 pattern featuring the King's crown Gold bullion RAAF pilot's brevet worn by Squadron Leader, later Wing Commander, Richard Cresswell. Cresswell
Photograph album containing images relating to the service of Wing Commander, Richard Cresswell, No. 77 Squadron RAAF. The majority of images are official photographs taken by the Royal Australian Air
Circular brass Communist Chinese medal with a short chain and T-bar attached. The obverse of the medal shows a red enamelled Communist Chinese flag above a map of Asia. Beneath this are two enamel scr
Circular brass enamelled Communist Chinese medal with ribbon. The obverse of the medal is enamelled and shows a red star at the base with light green wings on either side. A red map of China in the ce
Circular brass Communist Chinese medal with ribbon. The obverse of the medal shows an armed Chinese soldier standing before a red enamelled Communist Chinese flag. There is a scroll beneath bearing Ch
Korea Medal, impressed around edge with recipient's details. This Korea Medal relates to the service of Sergeant John Norris Parker, as a pilot in 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) duri
