Group Captain Douglas Charles Hurst DFC (Rtd) as a flight lieutenant flight commander No 77 (Fighter) Squadron RAAF, Korea 1952-1953, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark

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 training at RAAF Base Williamstown in preparation for service with No 77 (Fighter) Squadron in Korea; conversion to the Gloster Meteor jet fighter at Iwakuni Japan and deployment to No 77 Squadron based at Kimpo, South Korea as a flight commander; the USAF Kimpo air base and general impressions of No 77 Squadron at the time; the nature of squadron operational missions - interdiction and close air support; accommodation arrangements; the flying pattern daily for sixteen aircraft and thirty air crew; the pattern of aircraft maintenance at Kimpo and at Iwakuni; rockets filled with napalm instead of high explosive; feelings with regard to intelligence-identified villages being attacked notwithstanding secondary explosions and heavy air defence indicating concealed military targets; Royal Air Force pilots serving with No 77 Squadron and with USAF squadrons; the effects of serious damage aircraft; the scale of ground crew at Kimpo needed to maintain operational flying; stress due to operations and the operation which earned him the DFC; operational and restricted area limitations on the Gloster Meteors and No 77 Squadron; a major escort task for USAF/RAAF aircraft with the air visit of President Eisenhower; his return to Australia on completion of duty; limitations in flying and non-flying clothing; hazards of getting airborne in snow-affected conditions; the selection of a pilot to fly as tail-end-Charlie on operational missions; reflections on two commanding officers; some close calls in running low on fuel.