STEPHENS, Geoffrey Ingram
| Service Numbers: | 0647, O647 , O647 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 June 1945 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 27 April 1927 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | W C MOrris High School, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA |
| Occupation: | Audit Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 6 January 1951, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Pilot Officer Stephens' body was never recovered and is therefore regarded as missing, presumed killed in action, United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, Korea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Hobart Korean Grove, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 25 Jun 1945: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 0647 | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, O647 , Discharged/demobilisation due to end of hostilities. |
Non Warlike Service
| 2 Aug 1948: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Airman Pilot |
|---|
Korean War Service
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Pilot Officer, O647, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1950: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, O647 |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ingram STEPHENS, O647/89418, was born in Launceston, Tasmania on 27 April 1927. He attended WC Morris High School, Launceston and achieved intermediate certificate in Nov 1943. Prior to enlistment his civilian employment was an audit clerk with Holyman and sons and Dept of Housing and Construction. He initially enlisted in RAAF in Hobart on 25 Jun 1945 as technical trainee and discharged on de-mobilisation on 18 Sep 1945. He re-enlisted 02 Aug 1948 as Trainee Pilot and qualified on 23 Feb 1950. He was posted to 77SQN Iwakuni Japan on 12 Mar 1950 and moved with the Squadron to Korea on 01 Nov 1950. He was listed MIA believed killed on 6 January 1951, age 23. He was posthumously awarded the US Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the US Air Medal.
Mission Summary
Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ingram STEPHENS, Service Number: O647, DoB: 27 April 1927, 77SQN, MIA 6 January 1951, LKP TOKYO GRID BS 934 938, latitude and longitude 37 53 33.18 N 126 39 30.20 E
On 6 January 1951, PLTOFFs Trebilcoand Stephens flying Mustangs were conducting armed reconnaissance along the main road north from Seoul, through Munsan, and Kaesong and then north to Sariwon. At 0920 the Mustang pair arrived over Seoul and followed the road/rail north to Munsan, the pair were flying in trail at 100ft and considerable weaving and turning was required. Shortly after PLTOFF Trebilconoted a large flash and upon turning to investigate noted a RAAF Mustang tail fin and a charred track leading to a fire; a distance of about 30-40yds. There was no sign of Stephens and at 100ft, it is unlikely that he would have bailed out. Probable cause is either a stall at low level or he was hit by small arms fire. The crash site was listed just north of DMZ at TOKYO GRID BS 934 938, latitude and longitude 37 53 33.18 N 126 39 30.20 E.
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