Branch of Service

Air Force

Conflict

Korea (1950-1953)

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

18/11/1929

Place of Birth

Rockhampton, Queensland

Address (at enlistment)

Allambee Street, Reid ACT

School(s) Attended

Canberra High School

Occupation

Trainee cinema manager

Next of Kin

Son of James and Ethel Gillan, Allambee Street, Reid ACT

Burial Place

Body not recovered

Service Number

033625

Final Rank

Flying Officer

Final Unit

77 Squadron RAAF

Died in a flying battle 27 January 1952, North Korea

AWM Roll of Honour Memorial Panel 2
Commonwealth Memorial Plaque, United Nations Cemetery, Pusan, Korea

US Air Medal (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 5 November 1953, page 2993, position 25)

Gillan went to Canberra High School (where he was school vice captain in 1947), represented the school's first XV in rugby union for three years and played for Combined Country High Schools versus City Combined High Schools in 1947. After obtaining his Leaving Certificate in 1947 he worked as a laboratory assistant at the CSIR and then as an assistant manager at the Civic Theatre before joining the RAAF in 1949. While at the CSIR he and his brother Jim and several other workmates formed the Ginini Ski Club on Mt. Ginini in the Brindabellas where they built a hut in 1948. The hut was sold to the Royal Military College in 1951 and the cadets used it for the RMC Ski Club. Gillan was also a member of the Canberra Aero Club where he learnt to fly while still at school.

Gillan trained at Point Cook, Canberra and Williamtown before being sent to Korea in September 1951. He flew a Gloster Meteor jet with 77 Squadron during the Korean War. 77 Squadron were attached to the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group of the US Air Force from the beginning of the Korean War in July 1950. The Canberra Times reported in October 1951 that Gillan had flown the 500th sortie (his 24th) by 77 Squadron and he told his parents before Christmas 1951 that he had flown in 63 missions. On 27 January 1952 he took off from Kimpo airfield near Seoul as part of a patrol between Haeju and Singye in North Korea. He and another pilot strafed Ongjin (Chujin) airfield and were following the railway line towards Haeju when they spotted a target near Chwiya-Ri (referred to in some reports as Chaiya-Ri). As he pulled up to make a pass, Gillan's plane was hit by enemy ground fire and smoke was seen to be coming from it as it lost height. Gillan radioed that he had been hit on the starboard side and would try to return to base. Another Australian pilot flew up alongside Gillan's jet, which was flying straight and level, but there was nobody in it. It is believed Gillan managed to eject from his plane but despite an aerial search over the snow-covered ground, his body was never recovered.

Gillan was awarded the US Air Medal for his valour and devotion to duty over Korea from 15 September to 24 October 1951. According to the citation "many times in the face of superior numbers of enemy high performance jet aircraft his courage, aggressiveness and tactical skill contributed greatly to the successful completion of the assigned mission."

Description - height 5 feet 8 inches, fair hair, hazel eyes.

AWM Roll of Honour Database
AWM Honours & Awards
AWM Collections Record: 64 1/152 Narrative Report No.77 Squadron January 19th - 31st 1952
Nominal Roll of Australian Veterans of the Korean War
The Duntroon Society, 'Formation of RMC Ski Club, 1951', Newsletter 2/1995
Stand-to: Journal of the Australian Capital Territory Branch, RSSAILA, Mar. 1952 (p.29)
The Canberra Times - 28 February 1946, 22 February 1951, 12 October 1951, 16 October 1951, 30 January 1952 (p.4), 31 January 1952 (p.4), 31 October 1953
Robert O'Neill, 'Australia in the Korean War 1950-53', vol. II, Combat Operations, Canberra, AGPS / AWM, 1985, (p.642)
George Odgers, 'Across the Parallel - the Australian 77th Squadron with the United States Air Force in the Korean War', 1953
David Wilson, 'Lion over Korea: 77 Fighter Squadron RAAF 1950-53', 1994
NAA RecordSearch
Image from 'The Yarralumlan : Magazine of the Canberra High School', 1947 (p.9)