| |
|
|
|
|
 1924 - 1985 (61 years)
-
| Name |
Ronald Jack MCKIMM |
| 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 |
- 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
|
| Birth |
1924 |
Bathurst, NSW  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Appointed |
1 Jul 1971 |
| Appointed CBE |
 |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) : Wing Commander R J McKimm, 37 Squadron, RAAF
|
 |
London Gazette 9th July 1971 - C.B.E.
|
| Military |
Medals |
 |
Medals
1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
British War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Medal
Defence Force Medal
National Medal
South Vietnam Government Medal
Air Force Cross |
 |
Australian Active Service Medal (1945-75) with 'VIETNAM' clasp.
|
 |
Australian Service Medal (1945-75) with 'KOREA' and 'SW PACIFIC' clasps.
|
 |
Air Force Cross
|
| Death |
1985 |
- 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.
|
| Person ID |
I65 |
Mills/Rushton Family History |
| Last Modified |
26 Nov 2013 |
-
| Photos
|
 | Portrait of Warrant Officer RONALD JACK MCKIMM, RAAF. Donor: B. MCKIMM
|
 |
Vung Tau, South Vietnam. 1969-11. Army and Air Force get together to discuss the new Australian Forces Radio (AFR) station. Left to right: The Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Sir Thomas Daly of Canberra, ACT; Captain Ross Ellis of Hughes, ACT; Officer Commanding the RAAF contingent, Group Captain Ron McKimm of Bathurst, NSW; Commander of the Australian Force, Vietnam (COMAFV) Major General R. A. Hay of Red Hill, ACT. Lt Gen Daly visited the AFR as part of a six-day tour of the war zone.
Permalink: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/MISC/69/0794/VN |
 |
ARCHERFIELD, QLD. 1951-08-04. SIKORSKY S-51 HELICOPTER A80-636 OF NO 23 (CITY OF BRISBANE) SQUADRON RAAF ARCHERFIELD ABOUT TO BECOME AIRBORNE PILOTED BY FLYING OFFICER R.J. MCKIMM.
Permalink: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P00448.171 |
|
|
|
|
|
