Studio portrait of Group Captain William Keith Bolitho RAAF. Born in Adelaide on 11 February ...

Studio portrait of Group Captain William Keith Bolitho RAAF. Born in Adelaide on 11 February 1913, Bolitho was working as a bank clerk when he enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force on 29 April 1940. After training he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 3 June 1941; promoted to Flying Officer on 3 December and to acting Flight Lieutenant on 1 April 1942. He was assigned to 20 Squadron piloting Catalina flying boats, arriving in Port Moresby on Christmas Day 1941 as 20 Squadron was being reinforced with extra aircraft. In June 1943 Flying Officer Bolitho was recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross for 'Attacks on Rabaul and the Solomons area'. His citation reads: 'Since the outbreak of war with Japan, Flying Officer Boiltho has completed 1,100 hours operational flying against the enemy, including 28 night bombing raids and 32 reconnaissance and convoy patrols, many of which were in enemy controlled waters. In January and February 1942 he made eight night raids on Rabaul. 'During a period of 31 days in April and May 1942, he flew on daylight reconnaissance of the Solomons area each day, completing 270 hours flying in the period. On the nights of 8 and 9 October 1942, he made two incendiary raids on Rabaul township involving 36 hours flying in 42 hours. Both raids entailed carrying a hull full of unjettisonable incendiary bombs through a fierce anti-aircraft barrage while caught in searchlights. The bombs were dropped by hand. 'At all times this officer has displayed the utmost keenness to engage the enemy and his courage, coolness and determination have been an inspiration to all ranks.'
Bolitho was promoted to Squadron Leader in 1943 and on 8 June 1944 was promoted to Wing Commander and posted to 11 Squadron at Rathmines. In early March 1945 Bolitho moved to 3 Operational Training Unit (3 OTU), also based at Rathmines as Chief Instructor. The unit trained flying boat pilots and Bolitho's experience was viewed as a major acquisition for the unit. Bolitho was serving with the unit when the war ended, but he remained in the RAAF until his retirement as Group Captain. He served as Aide to the Minister for Air and Navy, the Honourable William McMahon during the Korean War and later commanded RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra from August 1962 until November 1964.