K. R. 'Ken' WHITEHEAD, 2-Lieut., SAAF

Killed in Action, Korea, 3 December, 1951

2nd Lieutenant Ken Whitehead was flying No. 3, in a flight led by Lieutenant P. I. Norman-Smith which also included Captain Montgomery as No. 2, and Lt. Tindall, No. 4, in an attack on a target at BU-4550.

Upon successful completion of their primary attack they proceeded to their pre-briefed secondary target at CT-7060. When they found the target obscured by clouds, they set course to return to base.

After about twenty minutes, the leader called the flight to inform them that he was letting down through the cloud. Once below the clouds, the flight reformed. He then inquired of the flight if they were over the landing strip at Wonju, to which Montgomery replied in the affirmative.

He requested Control for a course to steer to K-46, but Control had an Emergency on their hands at the time, and asked him to stand by. He then tried K-14 and K-16 without success, and while flying at 1000 feet, they recognized the Han River below and followed it, intending to land at Seoul.

Approaching Seoul in clear weather Norman-Smith's aircraft was suddenly rammed by his No. 3 man, Lt. Whitehead. His Mustang rolled over and crashed into the Han River, killing him instantly. Lt. Whitehead's aircraft, minus propeller and engine, also plunged into the Han River, killing him instantly as well. Whitehead's body was later recovered and buried in the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan.