WONZ 339 – Mosquito at 85

Guests: Reg Mitchell – No. 488 (NZ) Squadron
Keith Boles DFC – No. 109 Squadron PFF
Harold “Bunny” Burrows – No. 487 (NZ) Squadron, and No. 75 Squadron RNZAF, and
Martial “Sonny” Gaspard – No. 75 Squadron RNZAF

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 2nd of March 2013

Released: 25th of November 2025

Duration:  1 hour  19 minutes 23 seconds

To mark the 85th Anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Mosquito, which took place on the 25th of November 1940, Dave Homewood has pulled an old but never before heard interview from his archive he recorded in 2013 with four Kiwi Mossie veterans.

They are pilots Reg Mitchell and Keith Boles DFC, and navigator-wireless operators Harold “Bunny” Burrows and Martial “Sonny” Gaspard. The recording was made at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, and the guys share memories and tell stories from their days flying one of the greatest aeroplanes of all time. As well as war stories, Keith and Bunny also talk about ferrying Mosquitoes to New Zealand after the war. You will also hear Peter Wheeler ask a question too, as he sat in on the interview.

Sadly these four wonderful gentlemen have all since passed away.

Quick Links:

•  The de Havilland Mosquito on Wikipedia

•  The Museum of Transport and Technology

Above Left: Sonny, Reg and Bunny. Above Right: Sonny and Bunny. In the background is the late Peter Wheeler of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association, who sat in on the interview. Dave Homewood photos.

Music: The tune is the 633 Squadron theme by Ron Goodwin.
Thanks to: The late Peter Wheeler of the NZBCA, and MOTAT.