Name: Russell David Durling Rank: Flying Officer (Air Gunner) Service No: J/36594 Service: Royal Canadian Air Force 98 (RAF) Sqdn Date of Birth: April 11, 1925 Place of Birth: Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: October 29, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Address At Enlistment: Halifax, NS Age at Enlistment: 17 Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Weight: 162 Complexion: Fair Eyes: Blue Hair: Red Trade: Clerk, Canadian National Railway Marital Status: Single Religion: Baptist Next of Kin: Winnifred Marguerite Durling (Mother) Halifax, NS Date of Death: September 9, 1944 Age: 19 Cemetery: Brookwood Military Cemetery (Surrey, England) Grave Reference: 55. A. 3. The 38th name on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial Commemorated on page 297 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on June 25 Russell David Durling, the son of Cecil C. Durling and Winnifred M. Durling, grew up in Yarmouth, NS. He attended Yarmouth North Public School between 1930 and 1941 where he completed his Grade 11. Upon completing his schooling he was employed as a Clerk with the Canadian National Railway at Halifax until his enlistment. He was the brother of Robert G. Durling who served with the Royal Canadian Navy and of Marion S. Durling. He served with the 2nd Reserve Battalion Halifax Rifles between May 1942 and November 1942. Following his enlistment with the RCAF in October, 1942 he was trained as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner at #9 Bombing and Gunnery School. He completed the course finishing 1st of 122. His assessment indicated that he was exceptionally quick to understand what was required, very forceful, demonstrating that others had confidence in him. He was deemed to promote harmony and able to provide good leadership. He served with #13 Operational Training Unit, Course 16, between May 29, 1944 and August 4, completing advanced training. He was then assigned to 98 RAF Squadron, a medium bomber squadron, equipped with Mitchell bombers. After D-Day the Squadron carried out an increasing number of tactical work, in support of the advancing Allied armies. Flying Officer Durling was the Air Gunner in Mitchell II aircraft FW.188 returning from a bombing attack on Gun positions at Boulogue, France on September , 1944 and when landing on the runway of the aerodrome at RAF Station Dunsford, an explosion occurred inside the aircraft breaking it and causing fire resulting in the aircraft being destroyed and all the crew killed. Denis Loveridge (Pilot), George Churchard (Pilot Officer), Bob Logie (Flight Lieutenant), Dave Durling (Flying Officer) in front of Mitchell Aircraft - 98 Sqdn. RCAF. All crew killed on Sept. 8, 1944 when aircraft exploded on landing due to a bomb hang up. Sources and Information: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Veterans Affairs Canada findagrave.com