Rochelle Nicholls - The Korean Kid: A Young Australian Pilots Baptism of Fire in the Jet Fighter Age

CONTENTS

Copyright Rochelle Nicholls

First published 2020

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission.

The Australian Department of Defence has not participated in the research or production or exercised editorial control over the works contents, and the views expressed and any conclusions reached herein do not necessarily represent those of the Commonwealth, which expressly disclaims any responsibility for the content or accuracy of the work.

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THE
KOREAN
KID

A YOUNG AUSTRALIAN
PILOT'S BAPTISM OF FIRE IN
THE JET FIGHTER AGE

ROCHELLE NICHOLLS

FOREWORD

To command a squadron, a commanding officer must lead and inspire the myriad of men and women who contribute to achieving the missions required of them in the name of the nation. But equally, a commanding officer will be inspired by all the members of a squadron as they give their all, be they aircrew, maintainers, logisticians or the various other support personnel.

For me, as the current commanding officer of 77 Squadron, my inspiration is not just limited to those who serve today, but also to all those who have been part of the "Double Sevens since its formation during World War II.

This book about Jim Kichenside is definitely a story of inspiration for not only me but also for all the members of my squadron. When asked to provide this foreword, I couldnt readily recall the name Kichenside - we all know the names and the legends of past members of 77 Squadron like Cresswell, Spence, Drummond and Binskin. I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to learn about Jim Kichenside, and especially to Rochelle Nicholls for writing this book.

The story of Jim Kichenside is above all a story of resilience -starting from his days as a youth living in Sydney and questioning where his future would lie, through to becoming a key member of 77 Squadron flying Meteors as a sergeant pilot over Korea during that war. I was in awe when I read of Jim having flown 83 missions in just his first ten weeks in country - to be assigned his own aircraft, Meteor A77-316, by his CO, with the nose art "Korean Kid painted on it is a testament to how highly respected he was amongst his pilot peers and the rest of the unit.

But Jims story is much more than his experiences in the Korean War. Training as a fighter instructor on return from Korea and at the age of 22 he was amongst the highest graduates of his course. Following appointment as an officer and then promotion through the ranks to Squadron Leader, Jim then had the honour to command the RAAF Flight to the Antarctic throughout I960 - a tumultuous year for the Flight with the loss of a number of aircraft due to the savage conditions of the frozen continent.

The remainder of Jims amazing Air Force flying career included time back flying Sabre fighter aircraft with both 77 and 79 Squadrons in South East Asia, culminating as a Wing Commander with his appointment as the commanding officer of 38 Squadron flying Caribou aircraft. In this role, Jim was called upon to lead and inspire his squadron through a difficult period, which he did admirably.

There is so much more to Jim Kichensides story, including his life beyond the Air Force following his retirement at the age of 45, but I will leave that to the reader to explore for themselves through the pages of this marvellous book.

I am proud to be able to recommend this book on the life of Jim Kichenside - a man who lived up to the finest traditions of the Royal Australian Air Force. I look forward to Jims story being a source of inspiration to the members of 77 squadron. Then. Now. Always.

Wing Commander Jason Easthope

Commanding Officer 77 Squadron

Royal Australian Air Force

July 2020

THE
KOREAN
KID

A YOUNG AUSTRALIAN
PILOT'S BAPTISM OF FIRE IN
THE JET FIGHTER AGE

ROCHELLE NICHOLLS

For Smithy
and nil those who sleep on the faraway hills of Korea.
Lest we forget.

UNIT CONVERSIONS

As far as is practical, the empirical units of measurement used in aviation in the 1950s and 1960s have been used in this book, particularly in reference to speed and altitude. Conversion factors for these measurements to metric units are provided below:

Speed:

1 mile per hour = 1.61 kilometres per hour

1 knot = 1.85 kilometres per hour

Mass:

1 pound = 0.45 kilograms

Length:

1 foot = 0.31 metres

1 yard = 0.91 metres

1 mile = 1609.34 metres

ENDNOTES

Chapter 1:

City of Sydney, 2019, Sands Directory 1930 to 1933: Part 20: Classification of Trades and Professions Directory [Alphabetical] Accountants to Furniture Warehousemen, Sydney, cited June 30 2019,
https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/search-our-collections/sands-directory/1930-1933.

Marrickville Heritage Society, 2015, History Lost: The Warren, Sydney, cited June 6 2019,
http://marrickville-heritage.blogspot.com/2014/08/history-lost-warren.html.

State Library of NSW, 2019, [Marrickville Subdivision Plans] [Cartographic Material] 1875-1939, Sydney, cited June 30 2019, http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au.

Gall, J., From Bullocks to Boeings: An Illustrated History of Sydney Airport, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1986, p. 48.

Fitz-Gibbon, B. & M. Gizycki, 2001, The 1890s Depression, Reserve Bank of Australia, Canberra, cited June 28 2019,
https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2001/2001-07/1890s-depression.html.

.

In 1935, there were more than 130 manufacturing operations in the suburb. Many families spent their whole lives within walking distance of the local factories. Meader, C., 2008,