James MacKay was born on 13th April 1920 in the Highlands of Scotland. He was the son of James Donald and Catherine Campbell MacKay who are also believed to have had two daughters. His family moved to the Viewfair district of Plenty, Saskatchewan, Canada when he was young and he was educated at Viewfair school. He was farming with his family in the Dodsland area when he enlisted on 18th November 1941 in Saskatoon. Having trained to be a bomb aimer he joined the initial five man Wellington crew with Thomas Kneale at 23 OTU based at Pershore. Following his death his family are believed to have left the Dodsland area. As the arrangements progressed for the memorial dedication Mr David Smith attempted to trace his living family but sadly was unable.

James MacKay was twenty three years old when he died as a result of the accident at Yearsley and is buried in Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire with the other members of his crew.