On 19th August 1916 this aircraft was wrecked following a force-landing at Redcar due to engine failure. Nothing more about the
incident is known.
Pilot - Flight Sub-Lt Harold Thomas Mellings RNAS, of Bromfield, Shropshire.
Harold Mellings was a remarkable young man, he became an Ace scoring fifteen enemy aircraft downed before his untimely death in 1918.
He was born on 5th August 1899 in Bromfield, Shropshire and must have lied about his age to enlist into the RNAS. He learnt to fly at the
Beatty School, Hendon gaining his Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate (Cert.No.2028) on 11th November 1915. After completing his training
he was posted to fly with No.2 Wing in the Mediterranean and scored his first victory on 30th September 1916 over Smyma, Greece. He was
posted to 10 Naval Squadron in France around February 1918 and scored his what was then his sixth victory on 28th February 1918 near Ypres.
He was wounded in action on 15th April 1918. 10 Naval Squadron RNAS became 210 Squadron RAF when the RAF was formed and Captain Harold
Mellings transferred with the unit to the RAF. During th emorning of 22nd July 1918 he shot down two enemy aircraft flying a Sopwith Camel
but later in the day was himself shot down over Oostend by Ludwig Beckmann and killed. He was still only eighteen years old. He is buried
at Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. He was the holder of the DSC and Bar and the DFC and the Greek "Royal Order of the Redeemer".
His DSC was Gazetted on 22nd June 1917, the citation reads.. "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."
His Bar to the DSC was Gazetted on 19th December 1917, the citation reads.."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."
His DFC was Gazetted on 21st September 1918 to Lieut (Honary Captain) Mellings, the citation reads.. "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."
Scout 3038 was made by Bristol's at Filton and was delivered to Redcar on 19th December 1915. The aircraft had been damaged at
Redcar in February 1916 but had been repaired and returned to the Unit. Following this accident in August 1916 it was then deemed
beyond economic repair and deleted from stock on 29th August 1916.