Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Frederick Patton DUNCAN, 59 Berry Street, Nowra New South Wales.

Son of Helen Munro DUNCAN, 25 Almora Street, Mosman, New South Wales.

He was born in Nowra, NSW, in 1925.

Jim is a veteran of the Second World War. Before his war service, Jim worked at the Bank of NSW as a junior clerk. He recalls the war coming to Australia. He says: ‘I remember the night of the Japanese mini-submarine attack in Sydney Harbour in 1942, when we heard explosions. Our family home was in Balmoral and I’d returned home from school rugby training that evening with a sprained ankle.’

In 1943, Jim decided to apply for aircrew training in in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was physically fit, enjoying swimming and football as his main sporting interests, and the recruitment officer observed that he was ‘quietly self confident’. He passed the selection and was enlisted in November 1943.

In February 1944, Jim began training as a pilot at No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School at Temora, NSW, where he soloed on a Tiger Moth biplane. After 4 months, he progressed to No. 8 Service Flying Training School at Bundaberg, Queensland, where he received his ‘wings’ on 15 November 1944. Promoted to sergeant, Jim was posted to No. 2 Air Observers School at Mount Gambier, South Australia, in December. He served as a staff pilot, flying Avro Anson trainers that were used to train navigators.

Jim was rated as ‘reliable and conscientious’. In April 1945, he was selected to deliver an Anson to New Guinea. He fondly remembers being just 19 and flying all the way from Mt Gambier in South Australia to New Guinea. He returned to Australia a few weeks later. He was then promoted to Flight Sergeant and held this rank until discharged in November 1945.

Jim says one of the best things about his service was being able to contribute to the war effort along with other members of his family, including his brother Alec and sister Joyce. His advice for younger serving personnel is: ‘Follow your training advice and fly fast!’

After the war, Jim studied architecture at the University of Sydney and went on to work at the Commonwealth Department of Works, based firstly in Wagga Wagga on construction activities at the army base at Kapooka, then Bathurst and Sydney.

Jim married Pam in November 1963 and they had three sons and four grandchildren.

When he was younger, Jim played tennis and football. He was also a champion swimmer and played water polo for Sydney University. These days he likes listening to classical music and playing lawn bowls.

Jim has been active in Probus for many years. He will attend his last Probus meeting on his birthday, where they will celebrate Jim’s special milestone.

Jim says the secret to his longevity is ‘choosing your parents, hard work, a healthy lifestyle and being active’.