Ronald Jack MCKIMM

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Medals
• Military: Summary 1; 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. Permalink: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL/15932.003
• Military: Summary 2; 022084 (previously 429262) Ronald Jack McKimm enlisted in the RAAF in 1942 and trained as a pilot. He served in 85 Squadron and later transferred as a Warrant Officer to 452 Squadron. McKimm was discharged in 1946, but re-enlisted in 1950 and was commissioned. He was awarded an Air Force Cross in 1955. The recommendation for the award reads, 'As Captain of a Royal Australian Air Force Helicopter engaged in flood rescue and relief operations in north west New South Wales and Queensland, Flight Lieutenant McKIMM was directly responsible for the rescue from imminent death by drowning of five men, the evacuation to hospital of a number of men, women and children in various stages of sickness and exhaustion and the locating and supplying of food to many people marooned and foodless. Due to the failure of the aircraft winch mechanism, three of five rescues involved descending to a height sufficiently low for the rescuee to be assisted through the door. This meant bringing the aircraft to hover with the wheels just above the flood water in which the men were standing waist deep. In each case there was no option but to fly the aircraft vertically through trees, telephone and/or high tension wires. Courage and skill of the highest order were displayed by Flight Lieutnenant McKimm. In the initial period there was no shelter and little food available, operations commenced at first light and continued throughout the daylight hours. Despite the physical strain involved in flying a helicopter and the lack of sleep and food, Flight Lieutnenant McKimm flew seven sorties totalling eight hours in one day. Throughout the period of operations, his sencse of humour, his loyalty and his untiring example contributed materially to the maintenance of the morale of all members of the detachment. In 1966 Wing Commander McKimm was appointed to command 37 Squadron in South Vietnam. He was promoted to Group Captain in 1970 and to Air Commodore in 1975. Permalink: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL/15932.002
• Appointed: 1 Jul 1971; Appointed CBE

Notes:

Military:
Ronald Jack McKimm received a letter from the head of the Sikorsky Helicopter Company in which it was stated that the company could not believe what he had achieved with the helicopter during the floods in NSW

Died:
McKIMM, Ronald Jack. Death notice 18 APR 1985 Death late of Banora Point. Published in the Sydney Morning Herald 24 APR 1985
Also in the Ryerson Index.

Ronald married Private [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1930 - 161 Rankin Street, Bathurst, Bathurst, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia (Telegraphist) 1930 - 326 Bondi Road, Bondi. Bondi, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia (Clerk) 1933 - 29 Glasgow Ave., Bondi, Bondi North, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia (Accountant) 1936 - 1954 - 11 Simpson Street, Bondi, Bondi North, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia (Clerk) Australia Electoral Rolls
• Military: Medals
• Military: 1 Nov 1916
• Military: 14 May 1940

Notes:

Birth:
15319/1897 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages for the Birth of MCKIMM, JACK E. Father: JAMES R. Mother: RACHEL A. Birth registered at PARKES.

Died:
14125/1957 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages for the Death of MCKIMM, JACK EDWIN. Father: JAMES ROBERT. Mother: RACHEAL ALICE. Death registered at BATHURST.

McKIMM, Jack Edwin Death notice 11 MAY 1957 Death 60 at Bathurst, late of Bondi. Published in The Sydney Morning Herald 13 MAY 1957.

Jack married Ellen Bridget HIGGINS on 5 Aug 1922. Ellen was born on 18 Apr 1895; died on 13 Mar 1983. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1958 - 11 Simpson Street, Bondi Beach, Phillip, New South Wales, Australia (Home duties) 1963 - Blues Point Tower, 24 Blues Point, Road, North Sydney, Milsons Point, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Home duties) 1980 - 507/57 Pitt Street. Milson's Point, Milsons Point, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Home Duties) Australia Electoral Rolls

Notes:

Birth:
12016/1895 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages for the Birth of HIGGINS, ELLEN B. Father: DENIS. Mother: THIRZA E. Birth registered at CONDOBOLIN.

Died:
McKIMM, Ellen Bridget. Death notice 13 MAR 1983. Death late of Kirribilli. Published in the Sydney Morning Herald 14 MAR 1983.

Notes:

Married:
12068/1922 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages for the Marriage of MCKIMM, JACK E and HIGGINS, ELLEN. Marriage registered at WAVERLEY.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: 1885; Sudan Nominal Roll - James R McKim, also known as: McKinn Service Number: 220. Rank: Private Unit: Infantry. Service: Colonial Military Forces Company: A Company Conflict: Sudan (NSW Contingent), 1885 Ship embarked on: SS Iberia Fate: Returned to Australia Ship returned on: SS Arab Occupation: Mason http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/nominal_rolls/pre_first_world_war/person/R1444988/
• Military: 19 Feb 1885; 220 Private Jack Robert McKimm (also listed as McKinn and known to his family as James McKimm) served with A Company, of the New South Wales Infantry Contingent to the Sudan War in 1885. Born in Ireland, he was 22 years old when he enlisted and was employed as a stone mason. One of his sons, Jack Edwin McKimm, served with 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, in the First World War and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the AIF in the Second World War, while the other, William James McKimm, served with 2 Battalion AIF in the First. One grandson, Ronald Jack McKimm served with 252 Squadron, RAAF in the Second World War, 77 Squadron in the Korean War and with 37 Squadron RAAF in the Vietnam War; another, Kenneth James McKimm, served in Second World War, while his great great grandson, Elliott McKimm has also served in the Australian Army Reserve. Permalink: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL/15930.001 Age at enlistment 22 years. This would indicate a birth in 1863. However, his death record states he was 69 years old in 1936 which means a birth date of 1867

Notes:

Died:
5256/1936 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages for the Death of MCKIMM, JAMES ROBERT. 69 YRS CONCORD WEST. Death registered at BURWOOD.

James married Rachel Alice BLOOMFIELD in 1890. Rachel (daughter of John BLOOMFIELD and Susan WARNER) was born in 1878 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia; died in 1963. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Courtesy of Mark Baldwin

Died:
31585/1963 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the Death of MCKIM, RACHEL ALICE. Father: JOHN. Mother: ELIZA. Death registered at LIVERPOOL.

Notes:

Married:
6051/1890 Entry number in the NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages for the Marriage of MCKIMM, JAMES R and BLOOMFIELD, RACHEL A. Marriage registered at PARKES.

James married Elizabeth HALL on 26 Apr 1855 in Clonfeacle, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Elizabeth (daughter of John HALL) was born about 1835 in Co. Tyrone, Ireland; died in 1897. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
5832/1897 Elizabeth McKimm. Father John, Mother Mary. District - Orange.
NSW BMDs

Notes:

Married:
Name: James Mc Kim

Spouse's Name: Eliza Hall
Event Date: 26 Apr 1855
Event Place: Clonfeacle, Tyr, Ire.
Father's Name: James Mc Kim
Spouse's Father's Name: John Hall
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M70212-5
System Origin: Ireland-VR
GS Film number: 101366
Reference ID: 2:3Q847PJ
www.familysearch.org

John married Susan WARNER in 1870. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
3781/1870 BLOOMFIELD JOHN WARNER SUSAN District - YASS
NSW Registry of BMDs