James George Gardiner Mallet was born 4 October 1921 and was the son of William and May (nee Jupp) Mallett of Waitara. He attended Waitara Public School before spending three years at New Plymouth Boy’s High School, where he excelled at all sports.
On leaving school he was employed as a clerk by the New Zealand Railways in Marton.
He joined up first with the Army in December 1941 but transferred to the Air Force in 1943. After training in New Zealand he was posted to No. 1 Squadron and was sent to the South Pacific where he served as a Flight Sergeant. He returned to New Zealand for a period of leave in January 1945 and then spent several months engaged with flying training until he was sent back to Guadalcanal, again with No. 1 Squadron.
Six months into his second tour he was reported missing on 9 June 1945 during a leaflet raid on New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. His death was confirmed on the discovery of the wreckage of his aircraft. His body was recovered and buried in the New Zealand War cemetery, Bourail, New Caledonia. He was 23.
Related documents
RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945, Archives NZ (R17845613-0029)
Books
Lest We Forget, by Jack West p.233
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
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