The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
John Campbell Smith talks about: his training as, and the duties of an armament officer; his joining the RAAF Reserve after the Second World War and being called up for service at RAAF Base Williamtown and then in Japan and Korea; the CO of No. 77 Squadron defining the need for a napalm rocket and Smith’s inventing one whilst at Williamtown; rocket testing in Australia, Japan and Korea; napalm rocket production in Japan; use of napalm rockets and North Korean reactions to them; patenting his invention despite Commonwealth objections; his short service commission not being renewed in 1954 because of his conflict with senior officers over his patent; other armament problems encountered by No. 77 Squadron pilots; his flying occasional missions; Meteors, Mig-15s and Sabres; how napalm rockets saved Seoul; his being deprived of the highest South Korean award as only British awards could be accepted; his presentation of the MBE by the Queen; solving the problem of cannon stoppages; No.77 Squadron efficiency and morale; working from an American base during winter; a comparison of Australian and American contributions to the Korean war: why the Americans could not win the war without nuclear weapons, and his posting from Williamtown to Japan and the effects on his family.
Part 1 of Wing Commander John Campbell Smith MBE (Rtd) as an engineer officer No 491 Maintenance Squadron RAAF, Korea 1951-1952, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark
Part 2 of Wing Commander John Campbell Smith MBE (Rtd) as an engineer officer No 491 Maintenance Squadron RAAF, Korea 1951-1952, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark
Cresswell speaks of his academic and military background including Second World War service in the South West Pacific area primarily as a fighter pilot; his role as Commanding Officer No 21 (Citizens
Wilson talks about service as a Mustang fitter in 3 Squadron, Canberra in 1949; his reasons for joining the Air Force; being engaged; his sudden posting to 77 Squadron, Iwakuni, Japan in 1951; an airc
Vincent O'Brien talks about his early training and service at the end of the Second World War; joining the Interim air Force on a two-year contract; training as a Fitter 2A (Airframe Fitter) prior to
Hurst speaks of his enlistment in the RAAF and experience of the Second World War in the South West Pacific Area; post- Second World War RAAF service including de Havilland Vampire jet-conversion trai
Air Vice Marshal Simmonds talks about the lack of relevance of basic flying training to combat mission flying in Korea; being posted to 78 Wing, RAAF Base Williamtown after graduation from Point Cook;
Victor Baker talks about his postings prior to No. 77 Squadron; the juxtaposition of Australian and Turkish graves at Pusan, Korea; an encounter with confederate state Americans at Taegu; tales of his