John Cumming shares a wonderful account of his time serving with the RAF in the Korean War from January 1951 to September 1952. Born in Glasgow, John welcomed the freedom offered by conscription and completed his training as a movement officer. Upon receiving his subsequent overseas posting to Iwakuni, the Australian Air Force Base in Japan, he admits he had never heard of the place, nor even Korea! At just 20 years old, John describes his initial work in Iwakuni, which mostly involved aircraft loading and movement. Soon enough, however, John undertook a role which transpired to be the defining work of his time in the Korean War: casualty evacuation. He shares some interactions he had with the plethora of injured troops, often a range of nationalities, that he helped to evacuate from Pusan. He also gives his impression of the American, Australian, and Canadian troops, including Australian female nurses, that he worked alongside. John also dives into tales of some close calls aboard Hastings and Dakotas, as well as stories of days spent partying in Korea, and meeting William Speakman-Pitt, VC. John concludes his account by sharing some insightful comments regarding the popular memory of the Korean War as the ‘forgotten war’, and contends with the repercussions of humanity’s disposition for conflict. John’s story reflects his determination and courageousness as he partook in casualty evacuation of the Korean War: a task far beyond what was expected of him when the RAF sent him to Japan.

As soon as he left school in 1943, Bill Evans began a career in precision engineering, working on munitions, making sights for Bren guns and camera guns for aircraft. In 1947, Bill passed the exam to join the RAF for his National Service and began his training in Padgate near Liverpool. Bill shares details of the various stations around the UK where he honed his skills as a flight mechanic before being sent to Buckeburg, the RAF’s HQ in Germany. He recalls the perks of his job, sharing details of the aircraft he worked on and memories of the limited entertainment options in the nearby town of Minden. He also reflects on the black market and how valuable a tin of corned beef had become. It wasn’t until later in life, upon returning to Berlin, that Bill realised the profound impact of the Berlin Airlift on the city's residents. His story is told with the humility characteristic of his generation, who largely saw their hard work and commitment as simply getting on with the job they’d been given to do.

Based at RAF Waterbeach and preparing for deployment to the Middle East, William Ball recalls how 77 Squadron, with only a few hours’ notice, was redeployed to Germany. Initially unaware of the specific task, he only learned on landing that they were to assist with the Berlin Airlift. In this interview, William recounts his time on various airbases in Germany and his vital role as ground crew, responsible for maintaining aircraft and ensuring their safety for flights to Berlin. As a Corporal Fitter 2E, William shares detailed insights into the technical challenges during the airlift, particularly managing weight restrictions for Dakota planes. These aircraft had to be as light as possible to carry heavy loads, requiring precise fuel management—no easy task. Periods of cold weather also forced the ground crew to adapt their working methods to ensure both their safety and that of the planes, highlighting the skill and determination needed to keep the airlift running smoothly.  Beyond technical duties, William reflects on life on and off base, the camaraderie among the crew, and his thoughts on assisting the Germans post-war. Proud of his contribution to one of history’s most significant humanitarian efforts, and the lasting friendships made, William ends the interview with a poem, Ghost in the Sky, about the efforts of all involved.