The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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 time at Iwakuni, servicing Dakotas of No. 30 Transport Flight; an hour's training on the Derwent [the Meteor's] engine; an encounter with young wounded conscripts from the King's Own Scottish Borderers; leave at a BCOF [British Commonwealth Occupation Force] hotel; conditions at Iwakuni; earth tremors; the sinking of a USN aircraft off Iwakuni; Whitie, a useful American contact; the lack of Australian winter clothing; 77 Squadron early morning routine at Kimpo; an argument with an equipment officer; winter clothing reaching Iwakuni but not beyond; icing up of aircraft overnight; being promoted to corporal with no available insignia; using a derelict US aircraft fuselage as a ground crew rest room and losing it in a clean-up before the arrival of General Eisenhower; a problem trying to get a beer after a late shift; poor catering at Kimpo; a heavy working routine, especially for engine fitters, resulting in loss of weight; Jacky Lee being sucked into an engine; Baker's return to Australia; losing seven days' leave; three weeks in hospital with pneumonia; a poor opinion of Australian organisation for forces in Korea; relationships with pilots on 77 Squadron, a fully professional unit; his employment prior to joining the Air Force; his recruitment; serving at Uranquinty; a comparison between serving in Korea and in Vietnam; a training evacuation of an airfield in Korea and a comparison with the evacuation of Hamhung.
Part 1 of Victor Leslie Baker as a Leading Aircraftsman engine fitter No 77 Fighter Squadron RAAF, Korea 1952, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark
Part 2 of Victor Leslie Baker as a Leading Aircraftsman engine fitter No 77 Fighter Squadron RAAF, Korea 1952, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark
Part 3 of Victor Leslie Baker as a Leading Aircraftsman engine fitter No 77 Fighter Squadron RAAF, Korea 1952, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark
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;
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
Billie Collings talks about: his enlisting in the RAAF; flying training and his being posted to No.77 Squadron, Iwakuni, Japan.; the inadequacies of flying training at the time; Air Force attitude tow
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