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Having arrived in England on the 7th May 1944, Flying Officer Melles was held at No. 12 Personnel Reception Centre, Padgate, Lancashire, until posted on the 7th July 1944 to No. 57 Operational Training Unit, Eschott, Northumberland, to complete his training on Spitfire fighter aircraft. His training proceeded (redacted to) by his being posted on the 20th September 1944, to No.3 Tactical Exercise Unit, Aston Down, Gloucestershire, following which he was posted on the 5th October 1944, to No. 83 Group Support Unit, Thorney Island, Hampshire. His training completed, he was posted on the 20th October 1944 to No. 486 (New Zealand) Squadron, operating from airfields in Europe in the wake of the Invasion Forces. With this Squadron as Pilot of a Tempest fighter aircraft he engaged in seventy two operational flights mostly armed reconnaisance flights but including twenty-two offensive patrols, nineteen fighter sweeps and one enemy aircraft interception flight.

On the 27th April 1945, Flying Officer Melles was Pilot of a Tempest fighter carrying out an armed reconnaissance over Wurtenberg. His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and Flying Officer Melles made a descent by parachute, landing near Bad Gegeberg, north of Hamburg. When his aircraft failed to return to its base, Flying Officer Melles was classified as missing. Later information was received that he had landed safely and on the 14th May 1945 he was able to rejoin his Squadron then operating from Kastrup, Copenhagen, Denmark.

While off duty on the 29th August, 1945, Flying Officer Melles was riding a motor cycle which collided with another motor cycle between Niendorf and Timmendorf, near Lubekc, Germany. Flying Officer Melles receiving injuries from which he succumbed on the same day. He was buried with service honours on the 31st August in a little cemetery in the grounds of No. 34 Casualty Clearing Station outside Lubeck, Germany. At a later date he was reburied in the Hamburg (Ohlsdorf) British Cemetery.

In Birthday Honours of 1946, Flying Officer Melles was Mentioned in Despatches for (redacted merit) Meritorious and distinguished services.

Find a Grave link with photos of deceased: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20940645/ross-alexander-melles

5/2/11711 AS2.
528 Hours as Pilot.

Mrs. L.C. Melles (M) (right aligned)
16 Waitemata Street, (right aligned)
Ponsonby, (right aligned)
AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)