Victor Leslie Baker as a Leading Aircraftsman engine fitter No 77 Fighter Squadron RAAF, Korea 1952, interviewed by Dr Chris Clark

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.