Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) : Wing Commander Ronald Jack McKimm, 37 Squadron, RAAF

Places	Asia: Vietnam, South Vietnam Oceania: Australia
Accession Number	REL/15932.001
Collection type	Heraldry
Object type	Award
Physical description	Enamel; Silver gilt
Maker	Unknown
Place made	United Kingdom
Date made	c 1969-1970
Conflict	Period 1960-1969

Description

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) neck decoration. Unnamed as issued.

History / Summary

022084 (previously 429262) Ronald Jack McKimm was born in Bathurst, NSW, in 1924. He enlisted in the RAAF on 5 November 1942 and trained as a pilot. He served as a flight sergeant with 85 Squadron, flying Boomerangs, and later transferred as a warrant officer to 452 Squadron, flying Spitfires in Darwin, and Tarakan in the Netherlands East Indies. McKimm was discharged from the RAAF on 29 January 1946, but re-enlisted in 1950 and was commissioned.

He was awarded an Air Force Cross in 1955 when, as a helicopter pilot, he rescued five people from drowning during flooding in northern New South Wales. From 1966 until 1970 Wing Commander McKimm was appointed to command the newly re-formed 37 Squadron, responsible for flying medevac flights in C-130s out of South Vietnam, and transporting supplies and equipment into the country. The first transport flight landed at Vung Tau on 5 February 1967. McKimm was the overall commander of all RAAF units stationed at Vung Tau. The squadron also carried out bushfire and flood relief within Australia. McKimm was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his work. He was promoted to group captain in 1970 and to air commodore in 1975.