James Ernest Parsons as an aircraft armaments fitter Fleet Air Arm HMAS Sydney, Korea 1951-1952, interviewed by Colonel David Chinn MBE (Rtd)

Jim Parsons talks about his recruitment in Western Australian 1949; the trip to HMAS Flinders for basic training; ordnance training at HMAS Albatross, Nowra; his posting to No. 805 Squadron, then 20th Carrier Air Group (CAG) deployed on HMAS Sydney; the formation of the Sydney CAG; the armament capabilities of the Sea Fury and the Firefly; his role in the Air Engineering Department and his daily routine; the aircrews' working up routine for deployment to Korean waters; his family's reaction to the deployment; the Sydney's operational and replenishment and maintenance routine; the inadequacy of cold-weather kit; the hardships suffered by defensive gun crews; aircraft gun cleaning and gun changing; ammunition handling and gun loading; the perils of hung-up rockets on landing aircraft; landing on a carrier without an angled deck and the use of barriers; preparing and arming aircraft for flight; crew accommodation; his experiences during Typhoon Ruth; seasickness; an operation off the Korean east coast involving the battleship USN New Jersey; the Sydney's defensive screen; pilot casualties and rescues; The Sydney's senior officers; HMS Glory: the Sydney's proficiency at launching aircraft; sporting opportunities; the RN members of the ship's complement; the USN Yorktown; two crew members that impressed him; being ashore in Japan; relations with Japanese civilians; Christmas 1951; leaving the Sydney CAG and joining No. 808 Squadron, and an overview of the Korean War and his part in it.