LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Roy Cecil PHILLIPPS MC DFC
Commanding Officer, No. 6 (Training) Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, 1918
Service No: 860
Born: 31 January 1896, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: Date unavailable
Unit: Station Headquarters, Archerfield QLD
Awarded the Military Cross (MC), 4 February 1918
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 12 December 1918
Died: Aircraft Accident (Civil aircraft), Archerfield QLD, 21 May 1941, Aged 45 Years
Cremated: Mt Thompson Crematorium QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Hargreave Phillipps and Cecil Raymond Phillipps; husband of Ellen Hillman Phillipps, of Toowoomba
Roll of Honour: Toowoomba QLD
Remembered: Queensland Cremation Memorial, Brisbane (Lutwyche) Cemetery QLD
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Squadron Leader Phillipps is an Australian Air Ace with 15 victories on the Western Front in World War One and served for a time with No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps.
DFC Citation (for service with No. 2 Squadron Australian Flying Corps) is as follows: “while on an offensive patrol, this officer destroyed personally four enemy aeroplanes. He has also shown the greatest gallantry during recent operations in attacking enemy troops and transports on the roads, and dropping bombs from a very low altitude.” (Commonwealth Gazette 12 December 1918 page 191)
At 2030 hours on 21 May 1941, a civil aircraft, flown by Flight Lieutenant Collins (a Ground Instructor) crashed on take-off from the Archerfield aerodrome and the two on board were killed.
On board were:
Flight Lieutenant John William Fitzclarence Collins (5611) (Administrative and Special Duties) (Civilian Pilot)
Squadron Leader Roy Cecil Phillipps MC DFC (860) (Administrative and Special Duties) (Passenger)
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/51/67
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John William) Highest Traditions: the history of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995
Garrisson, A.D.J. (Arthur Dean John) (O350) Australian Fighter Aces 1914-1953, Air Power Studies Centre Fairbairn ACT 2600, 1999