HT Mellings

[spad]

Looking through Ray Sturtivants book on Royal Navy aircraft I find mention of two victories by Harold Mellings that aren't normally included in his score.

12.11.16 LVG-Aviatik crashed at Chakla, Mellings flying Bristol Scout

12.11.17 Albatros DIII in flames, Mellings flying Sopwith LCT.

Does anyone else have details of these claims.

I also note a claim by a second pilot on 25.11.17 for a Rumpler C. This pilot flying a Camel. Was this a shared victory with Mellings?

And lastly... does anyone have details of his career before joining 2 Wing? He is mnetioned as joining up on the outbreak of war but the first mention I have of him is an accident in 1916!

regards

Spad

[frontflieger]

Hi,

do you have information about his last aerial victory on 22 July 1918? ... and Mellings' last fight against Beckmann?

Thorsten

[spad]

Hi Thorsten,

The only thing I know are that he claimed his last victory (a Fokker DVII) in the morning, and then was lost with another pilot in the combat against Jasta 56 in the evening.

regards

[spad]

Incidentally I have since found he qualified as a pilot in November 1915, but was still under instruction at RNAS Redcar from August to October 1916? Odd considering he is supposed to have brought down and enemy aircraft in the Dardanelles on 30 September 1916!

Also his date of birth is sometimes gives as August 1899, and yet one source states he was 20 in July 1918. That's a little more likely, unless he qualified as a 16 year old! I have also seen 1896 as his year of birth.

[josquin]

SPAD,

Harold Thomas Mellings was born at Bromfield, Shropshire, 5 August 1899.
His birth was registered during 3rd Quarter (July-Sept) 1899, at Ludlow,
Shropshire. The 1901 Census for England confirms that he was born
"about 1900" at Bromfield (the Census was taken early in the year, prior to
Mellings' birthday for 1901, hence the 1900 birthdate rather than 1899;
the Census listed age at last birthday). So, Mellings DID qualify at a
remarkably early age. The birth information references are: the
Birth, Marriages and Deaths Index for England & Wales; the 1901
Census for England. The birthdate that stated an older age was
either a clerical error or the false age he stated to join the service
while underage.

Regards

Josquin

[spad]

Hi Josquin,

Blimey! So he did enlist under-age. It seems unbelievable that no-one noticed it throughout his training and service. He would have been only seventeen when he went overseas.

Thanks and best regards

Spad

[ONEALM]

SPAD -

All my research material is in boxes while were are in the process of moving, but I'm sure Harold Mellings was in 210 Squadron. Attached is an undated photo of him.

This snippet is from my article about Ken Unger - also 210 Squadron - that appeared in Over the Front a while back. It mentions the 22 July engagement Thorsten asked about.

Two days later, Captain Mellings scored two victories during the morning patrol. A two-seater fell near Ostend at 08h30 and fifteen minutes later, he crashed a Fokker D.VII one mile east of Ypres for his 15th. Mellings' successes that morning were quickly reversed during the evening patrol. Just before 6 pm, 210 attacked a formation of twelve German airplanes south-east of Ostend. Seven more Germans joined the fight and a large melee ensued. Captain Swales claimed a D.VII destroyed at 17h55 south of Ostend, but as the engagement broke up, Unger saw Capt. Mellings flying at 500 feet being closely pursued by three Germans. Leutnant Ludwig "Lutz" Beckmann of Jasta 56 claimed two Camels at 18h00 and 18h22 respectively as his 3rd and 4th victories. These were certainly Capt. Mellings in F'5914 and 2/Lt E.H. Bullen (USAS) in D'9626. Bullen was forced down and captured, but Mellings was KIA about 5 miles south of Ostend.

Not related to his early days, but hope it adds something...
Mike

[Graeme]

Mellings received his "ticket", number 2028, on 11 November 1915 and was appointed a temporary Flight Sub-Lieutenant on 3 April 1916.

Distinguished Service Cross, 22 June 1917, "In recognition of his services on the 19th March, 1917, when he attacked a hostile aeroplane with great gallantry at heights varying from 12,000 to 2,000 feet. "

Bar to Distingushed Service Cross, 19 December 1917, "For the great skill, judgment and dash displayed by him off Mudros on the 30th September, 1917, in a successful attack on three enemy seaplanes, two of which were brought down in the sea."

Distinguished Flying Cross, 21 September 1918, "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."

Also in the London Gazette of 21 September 1918 -

DECORATIONS AWARDED BY THE HELLENIC GOVERNMENT.
Silver War Medal.
Lieut. (Hon. Capt.) Harold Thomas Mellings, D.S.C., D.F.C.

Various sources suggest his claims in the Dardenelles comprised two victories on the Bristol Scout (30 September and 12 November 1916) and four more in Triplane N5431 (30 September, 19, 25 and 29 November 1917). Claims 7 to 16 were made in Camels on the Western Front between 28 February and 22 July 1918 with No 10 Squadron RNAS/No 210 Squadron RAF.

Graeme

[spad]

Thanks for the replies chums. Mellings was indeed in 210 Sqn in the summer of 1918.

However, I am still having difficulties with his victories with 2 Wing. According to other sources he was still at Redcar under instruction in October 1916 and so the September 1916 claim seems questionable. The 12 November 1916 claim could be possible, but it all hinges on when he joined 2 Wing. He is very active in 1917, and one source I have states that the Driven Down claim in June 1917 actually crashed on it's own aerodrome and so... did he award himself this victory?

More questions....I love it!