The Korean Kid by Unknown

The Korean Kid by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922387042
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing


With 12 members, the 1960 Antarctic Flight was the largest contingent ever deployed by the RAAF to the continent. The group are pictured in front of the C-47 transport sent to extend Australia’s existing survey, exploration, and search and rescue capabilities [Kichenside family collection].

When he had learned Kichenside was going south, Felton had immediately put his hand up to go too. He was joined by pilots Graham Dyke and Ken Assender, navigator Ted Bloomfield, signaller N William Hanson, engine fitter Bert Carne, airframe fitters Mick Murphy and Bruce Harris, electrical technician John Arthur, instrument fitter Basil Rutter, and radio technician Donald Monks. Pilot Ken Assender was another who had applied after a favourable association with Kichenside: he had been a graduate pilot and the boy’s adjutant during his secondment as temporary CO of 21 Squadron and now eagerly signed up to fly with him at Mawson.

In mid 1959, Kichenside and Dyke were attached to the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) at RAAF Base Richmond for training on flying in cloud and icing conditions, before spending a week dropping supplies for the Army. The remainder of the crew were training in navigation, mapping, and C-47 servicing before the entire Antarctic Flight was sent to the winter ski resort of Mount Buller in Victoria for a ski and survival course.

On August 17, Dyke and Kichenside picked up the C-47 from No. 1 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Base Laverton. Powered by two Pratt and Whitney 14-cylinder engines, with her carrying capacity of 3.8 tonnes and range of over 3300km, Douglas C-47 Dakota A65-81 was fifteen years old, having flown with the US Army Air Corps before its acquisition by the RAAF in March 1945. The aircraft was used by No. 36 Squadron before it was sent to the de Havilland aircraft maintenance facility at Bankstown in Sydney’s west in 1959 for Antarctic modifications, with 5,088 hours on the airframe8. Before it was handed over to the Flight in November, it was fitted with retractable skis, extra insulation, and a jet-assisted take-off (JATO) system to give it additional thrust9. But despite the diligent work of the ARDU, the Doppler radar did not function properly, and the months spent on modifications meant the Flight had had very little time with the aircraft before their departure.

On January 10, 1960, Kichenside’s Antarctic Flight sailed for a year on the continent alongside 21 ANARE men, again out of Melbourne aboard the Thala Dan. The boy was leaving behind his three children – Gary and Ken as little boys in short pants, and Ann Cherie a toddler with her father’s serious eyes. He was also leaving his young wife, and trying to suppress the little voice inside that suggested this whole endeavour was selfish. He settled with himself by acknowledging it probably was — but such a chance for command and adventure would probably never come again. And the money – with nothing to spend it on down on the ice, this venture would ensure the family’s future financial security.



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