LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Kenneth Ross PHELPS
Service No: 407107
Born: Mannum SA, 10 March 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 May 1940
Unit: No. 31 Squadron (RAF), Palam, India
Died: Air Operations (No. 31 Squadron Dakota aircraft MA929), Myanmar, 31 January 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Ernest Murray Phelps and Anna Modesta Sophie Phelps, of Wolseley, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Coonalpyn SA
Remembered: 430, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Dakota MA929 of No. 31 Squadron took off from Dinjun en route to Fort Hertz, Burma, at 1330 hours on 31 January 1943. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, and has not been located. It was last seen by a Hudson pilot at 1400 hours, flying at 7000 feet near Kamku and heading for Fort Hertz.
On board MA929 were:
Flight Lieutenant Normal Lee Baugh (43524) (RAF) (Passenger)
Flying Officer Hugh John Munro Campbell MID (401101) (First Pilot)
Warrant Officer II Joseph Jacques Jean Ferdinand Casaubon (R/74121) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant John Orson Nicholls (1377419) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot)
Warrant Officer Kenneth Ross Phelps (407107) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aircraftman Class I Thomas Gladstone Williamson (1082946) (RAFVR) (Fitter 11E)
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, 166/32/27