James was born on February 19 1915 in Wetaskiwin Alberta, the son of William Henry Odell and Elizabeth Odell nee Gilmour of Wetaskiwin. His brother was William Henry Odell.
He was a hardware clerk and member of the United Church. His sports were golf, curling, shooting, hockey, softball, baseball and hunting.
He enlisted on August 25 1941 in Edmonton and he went thereafter on November 5 1942 overseas to the UK.
James was killed in action on Tuesday November 23 1943 age 28 due to a crash at the Westerstraat 25 in Ter Apel before or after an attack on Berlin in Germany.
The other fallen RCAF crew members were F/O William J. Lawrence, age 25 in graf A-20-384, W/O Joseph G.S. Kavanaugh age 25 in grave A-20- 385, Fl/Lt Henry K. Lefroy (DFC) age 24 in grave A-20-381 and F/Lt Raymond A. Gardiner age 23 in grave A-20-386. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was P/O Peter J.M. Scott age 27 in grave A-20-382.
The other RAF crew member F/Lt C.W. Cole (DFC) survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war.
He served with the 405 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.
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