LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Frank Francis MOLINAS DFC
Service No: 425454
Born: Barcelona Spain, 11 December 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 February (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 630 Squadron (RAF), RAF Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 29 August 1944 (Citation Title: No. 630 Squadron RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 619 Squadron Lancaster aircraft LM378), France, 19 July 1944, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Montreuil-Aux-Lions British Cemetery, Aisne, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles and Mary Jose Molinas, of Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Mackay QLD
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation: “This officer was the Pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack a target in Northern France one night in July 1944. In the bombing run, the aircraft was attacked by a fighter and sustained much damage. The port engine was put out of action, several large holes were torn in one of the wings and the ailerons were damaged. Some of the pilot’s instruments were shattered, whilst FO Molinas was slightly wounded. In spite of this, he manoeuvred to a good position from which his gunners were able to engage the enemy aircraft effectively. Following their good shooting the attacker was seen to turn on its back and then dive steeply apparently out of control. Flying Officer Molinas then executed a successful bombing attack and afterwards flew the damaged aircraft back to base. This officer set an example of skill, courage and resolution. (London Gazette 29 August 1944, Page 4014).
Revigny, already the objective of two abortive raids by other groups on 12th-13th and 14th-15th July, was nominated as a target for No. 5 Group on 18th-19th July. This was an ill-fated attack as no fewer than 24 of the force of 110 bombers failed to return to base. It was a case of the elaborate nightly RAF tactical deception plan misfiring for once. The enemy ignored the raid against Scholven-Buer, being deceived into thinking it was a diversionary sweep. The Luftwaffe’s strength in Belgium was sent westward into France and ran headlong into the force attacking Revigny. Fighter attacks began over the target and the fighters then hung determinedly around the skirts of the retiring bombers until they crossed the coast. Few crews saw obvious signs of success because long-delay fuses were again used, but later evidence showed that after the attack only one through line remained open. One RAAF pilot criticised the chosen route, which crossed an active searchlight belt in the Pas de Calais. After seeing four Lancasters shot down over the target within two minutes he swung out of the stream and skirted this searchlight belt and reported that other aircraft which had kept to track were shot down. Australian losses were particularly severe. Aircraft piloted by Flying Officer Beverley Hudson Gifford (415220) and Flying Officer James Robert Worthington (406417) of No. 463, Flying Officer Thomas Edward William Davis (420173) and Flying Officer David Beharrie (418334) of No. 467, Flying Officer William David Appleyard (415716) of No. 49, Flying Officer Frank Francis Molinas (425454) of No. 619 and Flying Officer Peter Buck Dennett (418927), Flying Officer Gordon Edward Maxwell (425331) and Flying Officer Bruce William Brittain (414756) (Flight Sergeant Gordon Edwin Beckhouse (424354) (Wireless Air Gunner)) of No. 630 were all shot down.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 Pages 236-7
On the night of 18/19th July 1944, Lancaster LM378 took off from RAF Dunholme Lodge at 2302 hours, detailed to attack the railway junction at Revigny, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research & Enquiry team later reported : “When outbound, the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter, and crashed at Montreuil-Aux-Lions (Aisne), France, some16 kms west south west of Chateau-Thierry “
The crew members of LM378 were:
Sergeant Richard Belton Cox (1821808) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Arthur Ernest Curtis (1398725) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Arnold William Habergham (1129143) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Max Loosli (1594457) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flying Officer Frank Francis Molinas DFC (425454) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Leonard Morgan (1396983) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant J A Nealey (1590700) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) Evaded Capture
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/28/358