LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Phillip Courtney MULLENS DFC
Service No: 402249
Born: London, England, 1 June 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 July 1940 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 22 Squadron
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 13 August 1943
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 22 Squadron Boston aircraft A28-13), off Point Hood PNG, 1 June 1943, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arnold Philip and Dorothy Mullens husband of Bonnetti Hazel Mullens, of Pymble, New South Wales. B. Ec.
Roll of Honour: Strathfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: University of Sydney World War 2 Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW
DFC Citation (for service with No.22 Squadron): “As a member of an Intruder Squadron, Flying Officer Mullens displayed aggressive qualities in many operations against the enemy. As a member of a flight which, without a navigator or direction finding aids, Flying Officer Mullens flew through rain and cloud in icing conditions for over an hour and successfully bombed a line of fighters in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and searchlights. On one occasion when detailed to bomb from low level dispersed enemy aircraft, he withheld his bombs despite heavy anti-aircraft fire from all sides and executed a circuit within the anti-aircraft zone and making a second and completely accurate run on the target before releasing. His aircraft was hit and an explosive shell shattered the side instrument panel, wounding him in the right hand and the right side of his face. Despite loss of blood he accurately bombed and strafed his target and returned safely to base.” (London Gazette 13 August 1943 page 3632)
At 1000 hours on 1 June 1943, Boston A28-13 took off from Wards strip Port Moresby, on a non-operational test flight of its front guns. The aircraft crashed at 1100 hours when it dived into a glassy smooth sea near Hood Point, Papua New Guinea.
The crew members of A28-13 were:
Flight Sergeant Austin James Collins (400871) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman John Eames Moore (20932) (Armourer)
Flight Lieutenant Phillip Courtney Mullens DFC (402249) (Pilot)
Sergeant Norman Henry Saill (33313) (Wireless Mechanic)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/28/18; A9845, 216
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line