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414340 Flight Lieutenant James Clarence RALPH D.F.M. (surname underlined)
Parents Mr. & Mrs. J.C.A. Ralph of Auckland.

James Ralph was born at Christchurch on the 26th December 1919 and received his secondary education at the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland where he passed the Senior Free Place examination. He played rugby for his school first fifteen adn other games of his were soccer and cricket. His civilian occupation was that of a motor car salesman in the employ of Motor Traders Ltd., Hamilton. In July 1940 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Flight Lieutenant Ralph was enlisted for aircrew training on the 26th July 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin and was posted on the 8th September to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai to commence his flying training. This preliminary training completed he proceeded on the 20th October to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Ohakea. While here on the 29th November he was awarded his Flying Badge and this was followed on the 10th January 1942 by his receiving his promotion to Sergeant. A year later when serving in England on the 10th January 1943 he was commissioned as a pilot officer. Promoted to flying officer on the 9th July 1943 and to flight lieutenant on the 7th December 1943. Meanwhile on the 31st January 1942 he had embarked for the United Kingdom.

On arriving in England on the 9th March 1942 Flight Lieutenant Ralph reported to No .3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth where and at the Reception Centre at Harrogate he was attached until posted on the 7th April to No. 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Little Rissington, Gloucestershire. His training here was interrupted on the 16th June while he attended an instrument flying course with No. 1513 Beam Approach Training Flight, Honington, Suffolk. At the conclusion of this course he resumed his training with the Advanced Flying Unit. His next posting was on the 26th July to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, to crew-up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft prior to being posted on the 14th September to No. 101 Squadron, Stradishall, Suffolk, and commencing operational flying. During September he took part in four operational flights comprising attacks on Essen and Saarbrucken and minelaying sorties in Kiel Harbour and Kattegat. Early in October he was posted to No. 1654 Conversion Unit, Wigsley, Nottinghamshire to convert to