LEST WE FORGET
Aircraftman Class 1 Kenneth Latham STEPHEN
Service No: 48013
Born: Adelaide SA, 27 February 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 April 1942
Unit: No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Port Pirie SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School Battle aircraft L5653), Port Pirie, 3 September 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Port Pirie General Cemetery, SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Algernon Gordon and Ada Myrtle Stephen, of Woodville
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 117, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At about 1150 hours on 3 September 1943, Fairey Battle L5653 took off from the Port Pirie airfield, climbed to about 400 feet and then crashed. The aircraft caught fire on impact and both crew members were killed. The accident investigation discovered that a chock had been left in the aileron. The crew members of L5653 were:
Sergeant Robert Ashmore Scott (418770) (Pilot)
Aircraftman Class 1 Kenneth Latham Stephen (48013) (Trainee Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 233