WELLINGS, Frank Richard


J/4890, Pilot Officer, Frank Richard WELLINGS
Aged 28


209 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Killed in Action on Sunday, 14th December 1941


Frank Richard WELLINGS was born on 17th February, 1913 (Wolverhampton Q1-1913 6B:1025), son of Isaac Edward and Edith WELLINGS (née WILLIAMS) later of Church Stoke, Montgomeryshire.

Educated at Culford School, he later gained a B.Sc (Hons).

In the 1939 register, at Pentrenant Cottage, Forden, Montgomeryshire, were his father Isaac E. [1-2-1881] a building contractor and his mother Edith [31-3-1881]. There were 4 men also present but seemingly unrelated. After his death, his family sponsored the PILOT OFFICER FRANK WELLINGS PRIZE FOR PHYSICS at the School. This was awarded annually to the best scholar in that subject. Possibly the engineer who returned to UK in 33 from BWI He went to Montreal, gave his address at Pentrenant Hall, Mont..a petroleum engineer, with English, French and some German - Address at time Hotel Ford.


In the first three months of 1941 he was at No.5 Flying Training School at Brantford, Ontario, Canada. 209 Squadron was a Coastal Command Squadron, flying Catalina flying boats (USA they were PBY's)

Consolidated Catalina, ser.no.AH 530, sqn id. WQ-T, took off at 04:45 on 14th December 1941 from Pembroke Dock for a patrol over the Bay of Biscay. It hit a drifter on take off and crashed into the sea at 04:48, south west of Weare Point. From the crew of 11 there were two survivors, the bodies of 3 crew members were recovered but the other seven were never found. The two survivors were Sgt J N Tew and Sgt P J Rudge.

The crew were:-
Pilot - Flt/Lt Edward Arthur JEWISS DFC (RAF), buried in Latton Churchyard, near Cirencester
Flt Engineer - Sgt Arthur BERRY, (RAFVR), buried in Maidstone, Kent
Observer - F/Sgt John Percival TAYLOR (RCAF) buried in Birstwith Churchyard, near Harrogate
Sgt Francis Foster De SMIDT (RAFVR), Runnymede memorial.
Sgt Harry GREENWOOD (RAFVR), Runnymede memorial
Sgt Stanley NAPIER (RAF), Runnymede memorial
F/Sgt Hubert Harding PENROSE (RAF), Runnymede memorial
Sgt Wisden Warwick STENNING (RAFVR), Runnymede memorial
P/Off Frank Richard WELLINGS (RCAF), Runnymede memorial


The trade of most of the crew is not known. F/Sgt John Nevil TEW (RAFVR) was later killed in action on 14th July 1942 and is named on the Runnymede memorial
Sgt P.J. RUDGE apparently survived the war






photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Frank Wellings is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 60

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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