Captain Harold Thomas Mellings DSC*, DFC was a British World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.[1]
Harold Thomas Mellings | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 August 1899[1] Bromfield, Shropshire, England |
| Died | 22 July 1918 Ostend, Belgium |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 2 Wing RNAS No. 10 Squadron RNAS/No. 210 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Macedonian front • Western Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross & bar Distinguished Flying Cross |
Early life and career edit
Mellings was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 2028 at the Beatty Flying School in Hendon on a Caudron biplane on 11 November 1915,[2] having joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a temporary probationary flight sub-lieutenant, and was confirmed in his rank on 3 April 1916.[3]
Service on the Aegean Front edit
Mellings began his career as a fighter ace on 30 September 1916, when he flew a Bristol Scout to victory over an LVG near Smyrna. He sent the observation plane spinning down out of control. It would be exactly a year until victory number two,[1] by which time he had been promoted to flight lieutenant (June 1917).[4] This second action was a clash between polyglot forces. Mellings was flying a recently rebuilt Sopwith Triplane equipped with an extra gun, and was accompanied by John Alcock in a Sopwith Camel and a third pilot in a Sopwith Pup. The opposing Germans were a two-seater observation plane escorted by two Albatros W.4s. The ensuing dogfight resulted in Mellings shooting away the upper left wing of Walter Kreuger's W.4; Kreuger crashed into the Aegean Sea.[5] In November, Mellings destroyed enemy aircraft on the 19th, 25th, and 29th, becoming an ace while still flying Sopwith Triplane No. N5431. Soon afterwards, he was transferred out of No. 2 Wing to No. 10 Naval Squadron on the Western Front in France.[1]
Service on the Western Front edit
Mellings's new assignment put him in the cockpit of a Sopwith Camel. He used it to score his sixth triumph on 28 February 1918. He tallied four more wins in March, including a double victory on 24 March, to become a double ace. After one more win, on 9 April, he was wounded in action on the 15th. He would not score again until 9 July 1918. He then notched two victories each on 20 and 22 July. Later in the day of the 22nd, he was killed in action by Ludwig Beckmann.[1]
Mellings's final tally was ten enemy aeroplanes confirmed destroyed, five driven down out of control, and two unconfirmed victories.[1]
He is buried in Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, Nieuwpoort, Belgium.[6]
Honours and awards edit
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Thomas Mellings, RNAS.
- "In recognition of his services on 19 March 1917, when he attacked a hostile aeroplane with great gallantry at heights varying from 12,000 to 2,000 feet."[7]
- Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross
- Flight Lieutenant Harold Thomas Mellings, DSC, RNAS.
- "For the great skill, judgment and dash displayed by him off Mudros on 30 September 1917, in a successful attack on three enemy seaplanes, two of which were brought down in the sea."[8]
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Lieutenant (Honorary Captain) Harold Thomas Mellings, DSC. (Sea Patrol).
- "A very gallant officer who, on a recent patrol, attacked and caused to crash an enemy two-seater. Later, on the same patrol, he was attacked by four Fokkers, one of which he shot down at a range of ten yards; this machine was seen to crash. A second was driven down smoking. Since he was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross Captain Mellings has, in addition to the above, accounted for eleven enemy machines—seven destroyed, and four driven down out of control."[9]
Mellings was also awarded the Silver War Medal by Greece on 21 September 1916.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Harold Thomas Mellings". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "Aviators' Certificates". Flight. VII (360): 894. 19 November 1915. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "No. 29694". The London Gazette. 4 August 1916. p. 7675.
- ^ "No. 30156". The London Gazette. 29 June 1917. p. 6415.
- ^ Franks (2004), p.60.
- ^ "Casualty Details: Mellings, Harold Thomas". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "No. 30147". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 June 1917. p. 6256.
- ^ "No. 30437". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 December 1917. pp. 13318–13319.
- ^ "No. 30913". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 1918. p. 11253.
- ^ "No. 30913". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 1918. p. 11259.
- Bibliography
- Franks, Norman (2004). Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War I. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-728-4.
- Franks, Norman (2003). Sopwith Camel Aces of World War I. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-534-1.