LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Ronald Frederick STEPHENS
Service No: 423264
Born: Hurstville NSW, 5 November 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 13 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 13 Operational Training Unit Mitchell aircraft FV986), Nottinghamshire, 24 July 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harold William and Dorothy Stephens; husband of Esma May Stephens, of Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Arncliffe NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: St Clements World War 2 Roll of Honour, Mosman NSW
Remembered: University of Sydney World War 2 Roll of Honour, Camperdown NSW
In the early hours of the morning on 24 July 1944 Mitchell FV986 took off from RAF Station Bichester on an operational training flight. The aircraft crashed at Chilwell about 3 miles south west of Nottingham at 0230 hours. The aircraft disintegrated on hitting the ground and all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of FV986 were:
Warrant Officer Allan Alfred Cook (414907) (Wireless Operator Air)
Sergeant Norman Angus Hartrick (R/224413) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Alan Martin Montgomery (430040) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Ronald Frederick Stephens (423264) (Observer)
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, 166/38/625
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line