James Wade was born in 1909 in England and later attended the Village Elementary School and then graduated from Sussex High School in 1928.
He served in the Second World War flying military planes to Greenland and also flew K.C. Irving for several years as a personal pilot. He was known for his rescue missions and in three different cases he was able to land hi plane on “dime-sized” spot of open water, in the freezing cold to help rescue survivors. He also once spent 3 days in the Arctic wastes trying to find civilization after his plane went down on a rescue mission.
He received the British Empire Medal and the Distinguished Flying Medal, for actions few other would even attempt.
The monument at Sussex Corner School was unveiled on June 6, 1984 lead by Captain Wade’s widow, (the former Florence Lillian Mingo) of Charlottetown, PEI and his sister, Mrs. Ronald Bell of Peterborough, Ontario.
James Wade later passed away in January of 1974 at his home in Saint John.
