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436918: F/Sgt. James George Gardiner MALLETT.
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Mallett of Taranaki.

James Mallett was born at Waitara on the 4th October, 1921 and was educated at the New Plymouth Boys' High School. At school, he was a member of the first eleven and also played football for Tara 1st fifteen. He also took part in swimming and tennis. After leaving school, he was employed by the New Zealand Railways, Marton as a clerk.

He served in the Army for two years before transferring to the RNZAF in June 1943 and enlisted for aircrew training in the same month. After completing his elementary ground training, he commenced training at Ohakea in February 1944 as an Air Gunner qualifying in March. He then went to No. 1 Operational Training School for crew training and became part of the crew of a Ventura.

In October, he was posted overseas with No. 1 Squadron and was engaged on patrol work and anti-submarine searches, moving on to Green Island and Guadalcanal where he took part in patrols over enemy occupied territory in New Britain.

He was promoted to F/Sgt. on 3rd October, 1944.

He took part in further strikes on enemy positions on Rabaul and Vunakunau etc. until he returned to New Zealand in January 1945. After his leave, he was engaged on local flying training until in March he went back overseas to Guadalcanal with No. 1 Squadron his Pilot still being Flying Officer Benton. Until May, his aircraft was engaged on dawn patrols, anti-submarine searches and other flying duties. He then went ot Emirau with the squadron and took part in strikes over Rabaul and other enemy targets. On the 9th June, 1945 the Ventura in which he was part of the crew failed to return from a leaflet raid over New Ireland. The wreckage of the aircraft was later located near Lamerika East Central, New Ireland.