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 Carmen Durling (1896-1952) and Winnifred Marguerite Durling (1904- 2000), grew up in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He was the brother of Robert Glenn Durling (1923-1989) who served with the Royal Canadian Navy, and of Marion S. Durling (b. 1924). He attended Yarmouth North Public School between 1930 and 1941, where he completed his Grade 11 education. Upon completing his schooling, he was employed as a clerk with the Canadian National Railway at Halifax until his enlistment. He served with the 2nd Reserve Battalion Halifax Rifles between May 1942 and November 1942. Following his enlistment with the RCAF in October of 1942, he was trained as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner at #9 Bombing and Gunnery School. He completed the course finishing 1st in a class 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 [able] to promote harmony and able to provide good leadership. He served with #13 Operational Training Unit, Course 16, between May 29 and August 4, 1944, 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 amount of tactical work in support of the advancing Allied armies. Flying Officer Durling was the air gunner in a Mitchell II aircraft (FW188) returning from a bombing attack on gun positions at Boulogne, France, on September 9, 1944. While landing on the runway at RAF Station Dunsford, an explosion occurred inside the aircraft, breaking it apart and igniting a fire. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and all crew members were 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.