Harold Orville Gooding DFC was born at Ottawa Ontario, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gooding. He was educated at Glebe Collegiate in Ottawa and on 27 May 1941 enlisted in the RCAF in Ottawa. Gooding received air crew instruction at training schools in Canada and on 13 March 1942 graduated as a pilot from No. 13 service Flying Training School at St. Hubert Quebec.

He was later taken on strength of No. 111 RCAF Fighter Squadron at Victoria (Patricia Bay) British Columbia and flew with it to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.

On 23 December 1942, the USA Alaska Defence Command decorated Pilot Officer Gooding, with the US Air Medal for heroism in action against the Japanese Zero fighter aircraft during an attack on Kiska Island.

In January 1944 Gooding was posted overseas still with No. 111 Squadron, which was later renumbered as No. 440 Squadron. Squadron Leader Gooding took part in many power diving and low level attacks against enemy gun positions.

From April 1944, Squadron Leader Gooding commanded a flight and led his "City of Ottawa" 440 Squadron on numerous missions against a wide variety of targets. During the period in which Squadron Leader Gooding was in command, the squadron destroyed 43 mechanical vehicles and damaged 89 others.

Effective 19 February 1945, Gooding was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in recognition of his skill and bravery. He completed two tours with Squadron 440 and was repatriated to Canada in March 1945.

Gooding retired from the RCAF in October 1945. He married Doris Higginson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James D. Higginson of Ottawa.