Wallace Lang was born on March 4, 1923, the son of John R. Lang (born in Lambton, Ontario, the son of Scottish parents) and Mae Elizabeth (nee Wallace, born in Buffalo, New York) Lang, of Sarnia. Wallace’s father, John, was a veteran of World War I who had been gassed at the Somme. Father John listed his occupation as switchman with the steam railway. Wallace, who was the oldest child of three in the family, was brother to a sister, Virginia (born in Michigan, later to become Virginia Wray) and a brother, Donald. At the time of Wallace’s death, his father John resided in Detroit and his mother Mae resided at 270 Mitton Street, Sarnia.

Wallace, known locally as “Wally”, received his education in Sarnia public schools and Sarnia Collegiate. He was a Canadian Observer carrier boy for a while. In mid-November of 1939, he was elected local member for the Ontario Older Boys’ Parliament. The election took place during a youth rally that was attended by approximately 100 men from Sarnia, Point Edward and Wyoming, held at Devine Street United Church and St. John’s Anglican Church. His first duty was to attend the parliament for a week in late Deccember in Toronto. Wally would be president of the Sarnia Boys’ Work Board for two years, and he was active in promoting boys’ sports in Sarnia. He also gave of his talents to activities at St.Paul’s United Church and Sarnia Collegiate. Wallace also joined the Central Century Club a few months before enlisting. At the time of Wallace’s death, his sister Virginia was in training as a cadet nurse at Lansing, Michigan. Prior to enlisting, Wallace was employed at Imperial Oil Limited.

Wallace Lang, single at the time, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on March 10, 1943. He received his preliminary training at Lachine, Quebec; Truro, Nova Scotia; and Toronto, followed by a period of training at the Bombing and Gunnery School at Dafoe, Saskatchewan in November 1943. After completing his training at Dafoe, he took a six-week course in navigation at the A.O.S. at Winnipeg, Manitoba where he received his Bombardier Wings and commission as a Pilot Officer, in April 1944. Before going overseas, Wally took a Commando course at Maitland, Nova Scotia. Wallace Lang went overseas in May 1944, as a member of RCAF #429 Squadron “Fortunae nihil” (Nothing to chance).

During Christmas 1944, Wallace Lang was promoted to Flying Officer (and Air Bomber), and he was assigned to a squadron of Lancaster Bombers. He had almost completed a tour of operations over Germany and the Continent when the European War was terminated on May 8th of 1945. Though the war had ended, Wallace made the decision to continue on occupational flying duty. Nearly three months after VJ-Day, on November 5, 1945, Wally Lang would lose his life in a flying accident at Boulton Bridge in Yorkshire, England. Several days later, his mother Mrs. Mae Lang in Sarnia would receive a telegram informing her that her son, Flying Officer Wallace E. Lang, has been reported killed in a flying accident at Boulton Bridge, Yorkshire, England on November 5. No other details were given, but the message said that a letter would follow. Wallace Lang would later be officially listed as, Killed as a result of a flying accident, overseas (England). Twenty-two year old Wallace Lang is buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, Section G, Row K, Grave 2. On Wallace Lang’s headstone are inscribed the words, Father in thy gracious keeping leave we now our dear one sleeping.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, N, S, 2C, 2D