Newbury's Second World War RAF veteran of 37 missions celebrates 100th birthday

A man who took part in 37 aerial missions during the Second World War celebrated his 100th birthday this week.

John Boulter, who was a radio operator and rear gunner for bombing aircraft in the RAF, was part of several important operations, including Operation Hydra, which saw nearly 600 RAF bombers attack a German scientific research centre responsible for the manufacture of the V-2 rocket and other German guided missiles and rockets.

Mr Boulter now lives in the Hanover Mead retirement complex in Wash Common, where 30 friends and family members gathered on Tuesday to celebrate his centennial birthday.

He said: “This is all a great surprise. I had no idea about all this. It is marvellous; unbelievable. It is something to get to be 100.

“I woke up this morning and I felt like death warmed up. I am sure I’m 100 there’s no doubt about that.”

Mr Boulter joined the RAF in 1941 at the age of 18, trained as a radio operator and became a sergeant, and soon after took part in multiple overseas missions in Germany in ‘Bishop’s Basher’, a Handley Page Halifax Mk II four-engined heavy bomber that was a part of RAF 51 Squadron.

As well as Operation Hydra in August 1943, Mr Boulter also took part in the Battle of the Ruhr, a strategic bombing offensive carried out in that same year targeting the German centre of heavy industry.

For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest honours someone in the RAF can receive, for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy”.

However, Mr Boulter received the decoration through the Air Force rather than from King George VI at Buckingham Palace as the King was ill on the day of the ceremony.

Following the end of the war, Mr Boulter joined RAF Transport Command, flying passengers from Britain to countries all around the world, including Italy, Egypt, Iraq, India, Singapore and several other countries in the Middle and Far East.

He then helped administer RAF Basic Recruit Training, and assisted with local Adjutant General's Corps squadrons (the general administrative arm of the air force).

He was Senior Staff Officer in the Berkshire Air Training Corps, eventually becoming Squadron Leader for seven years before he retired.

Mr Boulter said: “There’s nothing sensational about me really. I’m just an ordinary bod that went from being an airman, the lowest form of animal life, and finished up and retired as a Squadron Leader.”