LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Ross Wilson JEFFERIES
Service No: 407140
Born: Quorn SA, 23 December 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 June 1940
Unit: No. 194 Squadron (RAF), Agartala, India
Died: Air Operations (No. 194 Squadron Dakota aircraft FZ599), Bengal, 6 May 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Lionel Harry and Norma Lily Jefferies, of Lower Mitcham, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Mitcham SA
Remembered: Column 443, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Brother of Flying Officer David Scott Jefferies (407046)
Dakota FZ599 of No. 194 Squadron took off from Broadway Strip in Burma at 1710Z on 5 May 1944 for ‘Moon’ type operation engaged in landing personnel and equipment for General Wingate’s forces far behind the Japanese lines in Central Burma. The aircraft was engaged in taking personnel and equipment into Broadway and evacuating No 16 Brigade from Broadway and Aberdeen air strips.
In 1944 it was reported from RAF India that wreckage was located in position 23.42.30 N and 091.35.30 E, in the state of Bengal, India. A search party established the identity of the aircraft which had evidently hit the trees and crashed into a steep gully. It reported that no member of the crew or passengers could have survived the crash and it was not possible for the search party to recover any remains for burial due to the hazardous nature of the country. The crew were subsequently recorded as missing with no known grave.
The crew members of FZ599 were:
Pilot Officer Ross Wilson Jefferies (407140) (Navigator / Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Robert Roberts (1684904) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air)
Flying Officer Clare Kenneth Thain (J/17937) (RCAF) (Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Peter William Henry Wood (121419) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
The details for any passengers that may have been on board are not available.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/20/127