Souvenir beer stein : Flight Lieutenant D C Hurst, 77 Squadron RAAF

Blue glazed ceramic beer stein with white dots. On the front of the mug is an image of a black and white cartoon cat (Warner Bros 'Sylvester the Cat') carrying a rifle, camera and map. The cat is on a yellow ground within a green circle.

Beer stein presented to Flight Lieutenant Douglas Charles Hurst of 77 Squadron RAAF, while serving in Korea. The stein bears the 'Sylvester the Cat' motif adopted by the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, USAF, which operated from Kimpo airbase alongside 77 Squadron during 1952.

Hurst, who was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1923, joined the RAAF in 1942, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and United States Air Medal for his service flying Gloster Meteor jets in Korea. 77 Squadron were on good terms with members of the 45th, who operated North American P-51 Mustang and Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star reconnaissance aircraft.