Mealing was originally an infantryman, and was serving as a sergeant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry when commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) in the Shropshire Light Infantry on 7 May 1916.[3] He then transferred into the Royal Flying Corps, and was appointed a flying officer (observer) on 15 November 1916, with seniority from 7 August.[4] He was posted to No. 15 Squadron as an observer, remaining with the unit until May 1917.
He then received pilot's training, being appointed temporary lieutenant on 1 September 1917,[5] and was appointed a flying officer on 17 September.[6] Mealing joined No. 56 Squadron on 18 October as a SE.5a pilot. He opened his victory roll on 30 November, destroying an Albatros D.III over Lesdain. On 10 December, he became a balloon buster when he destroyed an observation balloon.[1][2] He began 1918 with a victory on 25 January, and another on 17 February. Then, in March, while Mealing was on the brink of acedom, the German build up toward their last offensive supplied him with numerous opportunities. Between 8 and 24 March, he accumulated ten more wins, including another balloon busted, a reconnaissance aircraft shared with Captain William Spurrett Fielding-Johnson and another two-seater downed while teamed with Second Lieutenant Harold Walkerdine, Lieutenant Henry John Burden, and three other British pilots.[1][2] On 24 March, he was seen pursuing a pair of German two-seaters; another report had him standing waving next to his grounded aircraft. He was never seen again.[1] His Military Cross was awarded to him on 13 May 1918.[2]
Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Maurice Edmund Mealing, Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting. He destroyed three enemy machines and drove three down out of control. He also drove down an enemy balloon in flames. He always showed a splendid spirit of courage, keenness and determination."[8]
^"No. 30681". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 May 1918. p. 5701.
Bibliography
Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman L. R. & Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London: Grub Street. ISBN978-0-948817-19-9.
This biographical article related to the Royal Air Force is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
maurice, mealing, second, lieutenant, maurice, edmund, mealing, july, 1893, march, 1918, world, flying, credited, with, aerial, victories, maurice, edmund, mealingborn, 1893, july, 1893high, wycombe, buckinghamshire, englanddied24, march, 1918, 1918, aged, wes. Second Lieutenant Maurice Edmund Mealing MC 21 July 1893 24 March 1918 was a World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories 1 2 Maurice Edmund MealingBorn 1893 07 21 21 July 1893High Wycombe Buckinghamshire EnglandDied24 March 1918 1918 03 24 aged 24 Western FrontAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchBritish ArmyRankSecond LieutenantUnitOxford and Bucks Light InfantryShropshire Light InfantryNo 15 Squadron RFCNo 56 Squadron RFCBattles warsWorld War IAwardsMilitary CrossMilitary service editMealing was originally an infantryman and was serving as a sergeant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry when commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on probation in the Shropshire Light Infantry on 7 May 1916 3 He then transferred into the Royal Flying Corps and was appointed a flying officer observer on 15 November 1916 with seniority from 7 August 4 He was posted to No 15 Squadron as an observer remaining with the unit until May 1917 He then received pilot s training being appointed temporary lieutenant on 1 September 1917 5 and was appointed a flying officer on 17 September 6 Mealing joined No 56 Squadron on 18 October as a SE 5a pilot He opened his victory roll on 30 November destroying an Albatros D III over Lesdain On 10 December he became a balloon buster when he destroyed an observation balloon 1 2 He began 1918 with a victory on 25 January and another on 17 February Then in March while Mealing was on the brink of acedom the German build up toward their last offensive supplied him with numerous opportunities Between 8 and 24 March he accumulated ten more wins including another balloon busted a reconnaissance aircraft shared with Captain William Spurrett Fielding Johnson and another two seater downed while teamed with Second Lieutenant Harold Walkerdine Lieutenant Henry John Burden and three other British pilots 1 2 On 24 March he was seen pursuing a pair of German two seaters another report had him standing waving next to his grounded aircraft He was never seen again 1 His Military Cross was awarded to him on 13 May 1918 2 His name is inscribed on the Arras Flying Services Memorial Pas de Calais France 7 Award and citation editMilitary Cross Second Lieutenant Temporary Captain Maurice Edmund Mealing Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal Flying Corps For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting He destroyed three enemy machines and drove three down out of control He also drove down an enemy balloon in flames He always showed a splendid spirit of courage keenness and determination 8 dd References edit a b c d Shores et al 1990 p 278 a b c d Maurice Edmund Mealing theaerodrome com 2013 Retrieved 23 November 2013 No 29613 The London Gazette 6 June 1916 p 5638 No 29976 The London Gazette 9 March 1917 p 2380 No 30315 The London Gazette Supplement 28 September 1917 p 10135 No 30323 The London Gazette Supplement 2 October 1917 p 10269 Casualty Details Mealing Maurice Edmund Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2015 Retrieved 10 June 2015 No 30681 The London Gazette Supplement 10 May 1918 p 5701 Bibliography Shores Christopher F Franks Norman L R amp Guest Russell 1990 Above the Trenches a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915 1920 London Grub Street ISBN 978 0 948817 19 9 nbsp nbsp This biographical article related to the Royal Air Force is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice Mealing amp oldid 1068983559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
