Air Bomber. Rank: Warrant Officer, Class 2. Service No. R137946.

Early life:

James was born on October 26, 1918 at Sackville, New Brunswick. Resident at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. His parents were Guy and Etta Dalling. Nothing is known of his early life apart from having one brother, but from April, 1937 until November 1941 he was a salesman working for the Maple Leaf Milling Company at Halifax in Novia Scotia. He enlisted for 30 days compulsory service beginning on November 22 with the Non-Permanent Active Militia and was taken on strength of the 2nd West N.S.R. He was single, six feet tall, educated to grade IX and working for the Cudahy Packing Company in Halifax Novia Scotia as a Maritime Representative, from 22nd November to 22nd December.

James left after one month with the Army to join the Royal Canadian Air Force on January 20, 1942. He was interested in football, hockey, tennis and sailing. He qualified as a leading aircraftman on July 18 and entered air bomber training two days later. Completing this on September 11, having trained on aircraft types Battle, Bolingbroke and Anson, he went for training as an air observer on October 26 which continued until December 4 when he was promoted to sergeant and air bomber.

He continued his training and was promoted to flight sergeant on June 4, 1943 and was at number 16 Operational Training Unit from May 4 to October 11 when he was posted to number 82 Operational Training Unit for Wellington bomber training. He achieved promotion as warrant officer class 2 on December 4, 1943.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone for James Dalling.

Whilst serving at 82 O.T.U., he was killed as crew of Wellington Bomber BK387, on a training flight which crashed at Tewitt Hall Wood, Oakworth Yorkshire, on 2nd January, killing all those aboard. Buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery on 8th January. He was 25 years of age.

Information sources:

Veteran’s Affairs Canada. WW2 service records.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Oakworth Village Society.