Schmeltz, Francis Donald
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Francis Donald |
Surname | Schmeltz |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 01-07-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Franklyn L. Schmeltz and Cecilia A. Schmeltz, of Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | X9637 |
Markings | SJ-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Illogan (St. Illogan) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Row 2. Grave 4. |
Epitaph | OUR BELOVED SON AND BROTHER WHO GALLANTLY DIED FOR A GREAT CAUSE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 94 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/79036 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 91 |
Squadron | 21 OTU |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Main Gate of UK Fire & Rescue Service College, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | The Fire Service College Moreton in Marsh England, Royal Air Force Moreton-in-Marsh 1941-1959. Long ago it was and yet who amongst us dare forget |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-07-1942 |
End Date | 01-07-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Moreton-in-Marsh |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training- night navigation exercise |
Reason for Loss | Aircraft took off on a navigation exercise. Crashed into the sea at 1630hrs off Fowey, south coast of Cornwall. Upon impact the aircraft broke up and caught fire. Witnesses at the time were said to have seen the aircraft smoking just before it crashed. |