| Author Profile: |
Jim Treadwell entered the RAAF on 1 October 1951. He came into the service as a Trainee Signaller on No. 8 FTS Course. After 3 months “Initial Training” at Point Cook, he went to the RAAF Air and Ground Radio School at Ballarat, Victoria, as a member of No. 4 Signallers Course. At the end of that year (1952), No. 4 course proceeded to the Air Armament School at RAAF East Sale for training in Air Gunnery. Jim Treadwell was awarded a Signaller’s Brevet in December 1952, graduating “Proficient With Special Distinction”. Following graduation he was posted to 11 Squadron at Pearce, West Australia, as a Sergeant Signaller. At the time, 11 Squadron was operating P2V-5 Neptune Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft. As a crew member, he completed the Australian Joint Anti Submarine course at NAS Nowra in March 1953. In April 1955, Jim Treadwell was the first post-war aircrew member to be selected for pilot training. Winning the Goble Trophy, he graduated from No. 21 Pilots Course “Proficient With Special Distinction” in March 1956. He trained on Tiger Moth and Wirraway aircraft. A three month Fighter OTU course (No 23) on Vampire Mk. 30 aircraft at RAAF Williamtown followed pilot training. Posted to No. 75 Squadron as a Fighter Pilot, he completed a conversion to Meteor aircraft. In January 1957 he was posted to No. 77 Squadron for conversion to Avon Sabre aircraft. He was commissioned on 1 January 1957. In September 1958 Jim Treadwell was posted to No. 3 Squadron to take part in operation Sabre Ferry to RAAF Butterworth, Malaya. He served as a squadron pilot during the Malayan Emergency. In January 1960 he was posted, from Malaya, to No. 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond as a Test Pilot. He completed Winjeel and Dakota conversion courses at the Central Flying School (CFS) East Sale in June 1960. He qualified as an Advanced Navigator in July 1961 after completing No. 16 Advanced Navigation Course at the School Of Air Navigation East Sale. From Sale, he was posted to No. 1 Applied Training School RAAF Pearce as a navigation instructor. In April 1963 he returned to Malaya as the No 78 Wing Navigation Officer. He remained in No. 78 Wing during “Confrontation", although he was posted to 3 Squadron, as a squadron pilot, from Wing HQ in August 1964. He served in 79 Squadron Ubon, Thailand, from August to November 1964. In March 1965, Jim Treadwell was posted to 76 Squadron Williamtown. In August 1965 he attended the RAF School Of Air Warfare, Mamby, UK for training as a GD Weapons Officer. After completing the six month course, he was posted to No. 81 Wing RAAF Williamtown as the Wing Operations Officer. At Williamtown, he completed a Mirage III0 conversion training course in December 1966. Jim Treadwell was posted to No. 76 Squadron in August 1968. He took over command of the Squadron in December 1968. In June 1969, he was posted to No. 77 Squadron as CO at the start of the squadron Mirage re-equipment program. In July 1970, he set up the Mirage Photo Reconnaissance arrangement within No. 77 Squadron, as Flight Commander. He was promoted to Wing Commander in January 1972. He was awarded the Air Force Cross and completed No 26 RAAF Staff College Course the same year. In January 1973 Jim Treadwell took up an appointment within, the Directorate Of Aircraft Requirements Air Office Canberra, as Aircraft Requirements (Weapons). The position entailed the initiation and management of RAAF weapon projects within the Defence five year rolling program. During the period, he completed a Defence Systems Management Course. In January 1976, he completed a jet refresher course, which involved a conversion to Macchi aircraft at CFS East Sale, before taking up an appointment as Base Operations Officer RAAF Williamtown. In January 1977, a disillusioned Jim Treadwell resigned from the RAAF. However, he re-entered the service on 1 July 1981 for six months and formed No. 26 (City Of Newcastle) Active Reserve Squadron, as the founding Commanding Officer.
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