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NZ40976 Pilot Officer Victor Dennis JAMES (surname underlined)
Parents Mr. & Mrs. D.R. James of Middlemarch
Wife Mrs. G. James of Salcome, Devon (one child)

Victor James was born at Middlemarch on the 1st August, 1916, and received his secondary education at Strath Taieri School attaining Matriculation standard. The games he played were rugby, golf and tennis. His civilian occupation was that of a farmers' assistant in the employ of Mr. F. McRae of Sutton. In October, 1939, he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Pilot Officer James was enlisted for aircrew training on the 9th April, 1940 at the Ground Training School, Levin, and commenced his flying training on the 7th May, when he was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri. His elementary flying training completed, he was posted on the 29th June to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. While here, on the 24th August, 1940 he was awarded his flying badge and on the 26th October, received his promotion to Sergeant. Later, when in England on the 1st September, 1941, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and on the 1st April, 1942 further promoted to Warrant Officer. On the 5th May 1942 he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. Meanwhile, on the 31st October, 1940, he had embarked on the "Rangitata" at Wellington to proceed to the United Kingdom.

On arriving in England on the 8th December, 1940, Pilot Officer James reported to the Royal Air Force, Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, being attached here until the 28th December, when he was posted to No. 3 School of General Reconnaissance, Squires Gate, Lancashire. After this, on the 15th March, 1941, he was posted to No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, Silloth, Cumberland, to crew-up and complete his training. Two months later, on the 19th May he was posted to No. 224 Squadron, Limavady, Northern Ireland, to commence operational flying. He remianed with this squadron until the 10th July, 1942, when he was posted to No. 120 squadron Ballykelly, Northern Ireland.

On the 13th August, 1942, Pilot Officer James was captain of a Liberator