In the World War I era short story Biggles Goes Ballooning, Wells was a Canadian pilot with 266 Squadron in mid-1917, around the time when Biggles was still a junior pilot in the unit. Wells was described as a pilot with a great deal of experience who had just joined the squadron recently. When Colonel Raymond needed a pilot for a special mission, Major Mullen selected Wells from among the many volunteers. Wells had, according to Mullen, a good deal of experience at reconnaissance. As Biggles was to learn later, the mission for Wells was to locate some new German long range guns.
During the mission, Wells was shot down and most likely killed when his Sopwith Camel was attacked by at least a dozen Albatros fighters.
Wells' rank is not given but as a pilot with a great deal of experience but not a flight commander, it would be fair to assume that he would be a lieutenant.