SPECIAL K proved the dish of the day at Portman Road.
Kevin Phillips bagged a hat-trick and Diomansy Kamara netted a double as Albion bagged their first away league win in nine months in stunning style.
With Baggies-boss-in-waiting Tony Mowbray watching from the stands, the visitors turned in a devastating display to secure their first back-to-back Coca-Cola Championship victories of the season.
The visitors deservedly headed into the break in front after Chris Perry's luckless 36th-minute own goal was sandwiched by Kamara's opener seven minutes earlier and Phillips' 40th-minute effort.
Former England hotshot Phillips polished off a sizzling Baggies breakaway nine minutes after the restart before strike-partner Kamara added a fourth in the 56th minute.
And Phillips put the seal on a five-star display by completing his hat-trick four minutes into stoppage time.
It means Albion's new-look strikeforce has netted an incredible EIGHT times - four apiece - in just a game and a half together.
The Baggies have also smashed 14 goals in four matches under the caretaker charge of Nigel Pearson to keep the Hawthorns outfit ticking over very nicely between managers.
Mowbray, returning to the ground where he guided Ipswich back to the Premiership as club captain six years ago, was warmly applauded by both sets of fans as he took his seat in the directors' box before kick-off.
Skipper Curtis Davies returned to replace the suspended Paul McShane at the heart of the Baggies defence after more than six weeks out with a broken foot as Pearson made two changes.
Davies' fellow former metatarsal victim Kamara was granted his first league start of the season following his two-goal super-sub show against Leeds a fortnight ago.
Albion made a bright start but when Perry miscontrolled an awkward ball from Darren Carter, Alan Lee was granted a sight of goal.
But the Town hitman failed to make it four strikes in as many games as he shot wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards.
The Baggies' first effort on goal came in the 14th minute when Carter made room for himself on the edge of the box but fired straight at Lewis Price.
A quick break out of defence saw Kamara find the industrious Carter who fed Jason Koumas just outside the left-hand side of the penalty area.
But the Wales international fired over the bar.
Koumas was becoming more and more influential and picked out Kamara in the box with a quick free-kick.
The former Modena man swivelled sharply before whipping a dangerous ball across the six-yard area, which Phillips just failed to get on the end of.
Just a minute later, Koumas' superb first-time volleyed pass put Kamara in the clear.
The African Nations Cup star left Richard Naylor trailing in his wake and kept his cool to tuck the ball in the bottom right-hand corner from just inside the area.
Moments later, Phillips almost doubled Albion's lead when he prodded inches wide of the left-hand upright as he latched onto Martin Albrechtsen's head back into the danger area from Carter's right-wing corner.
Despite the hosts not having a shot on target, the Baggies' advantage lasted only seven minutes when a freak goal levelled the scores.
Billy Clarke pounced on Jason De Vos' header out of defence and raced through the middle, only to be thwarted by Davies' sliding challenge just outside the box.
However, the ball ricocheted off the parallel Perry and flew past the helpless Pascal Zuberbuhler and into the net.
But Albion showed great character to remain on top.
And five minutes before the break, Phillips ghosted in to deftly nod home Koumas' left-wing free-kick from six yards out.
The Baggies only needed nine minutes after the break to extend their lead - and it was some goal.
'Zubi' caught an Ipswich corner at his near post before immediately bowling the ball out to Kamara, who fed Koumas just inside the Town half.
The former Tranmere star's fantastic 50-yard ball from left to right fell perfectly into the path of Gera and the Hungarian's pinpoint cross was polished off by Phillips' far-post bullet header.
Just two minutes later, Albion made it four when Phillips played the lively Kamara through and the Senegal speed demon rounded Price with ease before sliding home a neat left-foot finish from an acute angle.
It was party time in the away end and the Baggies eased towards the finishing line with the Tractor Boys rarely threatening their goal.
However, there was still time for Phillips to complete the rout.
Deep into stoppage time, the pint-sized predator cut inside Alex Bruce before curling home an excellent left-foot shot from 18 yards to seal an unforgettable afternoon for the boys form the Black Country.
IPSWICH (4-4-2): Price; Bruce, Naylor, De Vos, Harding; Currie (Bowditch 54), Legwinski, Walton (Richards 80), Noble; Clarke, Lee. Subs not used: Supple (gk), Castro, Macken.
ALBION (4-4-2): Zuberbuhler; Albrechtsen, C Davies, Perry, Robinson; Gera (Ellington 87), Greening, Carter, Koumas (Quashie 80); Kamara, Phillips. Subs not used: Steele (gk), Hartson, Watson.
GOALS: IPSWICH - Perry (og 36). ALBION - Kamara (29 & 56), Phillips (40, 54 & 90+4).
BOOKINGS: IPSWICH - Walton (dissent 55), Naylor (unsporting behaviour 66), Bruce (foul 75), Noble (unsporting behaviour 90+3). ALBION - Greening (foul 66), Koumas (foul 73), Carter (unsporting behaviour 87).
REFEREE: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).
ATTENDANCE: 22,589.
ALBION STARMAN: Kevin Phillips.
(PICS BY LAURIE RAMPLING)
