World War II bomber pilot dies, aged 100
One of New Zealand’s last World War II Bomber Command pilots has died, aged 100.
109 Squadron Leader Keith Boles was one of 6000 Kiwis who flew with the bombing arm of the Royal Air Force (RAF). One in three did not come home.
He died peacefully three months short of his 101st birthday.
Boles, from Howick, east Auckland, flew Mosquitos to locate and mark targets with flares, which aided the accuracy of bombing missions in Nazi Germany.
‘‘He is flying his Mosquito again. Keith will be dearly missed by all those who were part of his incredible life,’’ Boles’ obituary said.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his service.
‘‘Acting Squadron Leader Boles as pilot, has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably shown the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty,’’ his award citation reads.
Boles was initially posted to Singapore and spent his 21st birthday sheltering in a narrow slit trench, awaiting evacuation as the island came under Japanese attack.
Boles’ daughter, Sue Popping, said he was ‘‘very respected’’ among his New Zealand Air Force fraternity.
‘‘All the current serving officers know of him and take a great interest in his past and life. Just to be so involved with it has been a big part of his life and therefore of ours,’’ Popping said.
Boles had ‘‘five lovely, greatgrandchildren’’ and just prior to his death the family had welcomed their newest addition, she said.
‘‘So it is sort of like we are celebrating two lives – the life of a new person in the family and his life,’’ Popping said.
Chief executive of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association Peter Wheeler, QSM, said Boles was ‘‘a hell of a good guy’’ and completed more than 50 air operations during his duties.
Following the war, Boles was recruited by the Canadians to be an instructor for trainee pilots, he said.
‘‘Because he was a Kiwi, he was very well trained. They kept him on as an instructor for about 18 months [which] nearly drove
him crazy,’’ Wheeler said.
Once Boles retired from the air force he became an engineer and specialised in building telegraph poles, Wheeler said.
‘‘His business was named Boles For Poles – he had a great sense of humour.’’
Wheeler said Boles’ death was not ‘‘unexpected’’ because his health had been on-and-off for much of this year.
A memorial service will be held for the ‘‘wonderful dad, father-in-law, grandpa, GGPa, friend and highly esteemed war veteran’’ when Covid-19 restrictions allow.