November 24, 2025

WONZ 339 – Mosquito at 85

1 hour 19 minutes

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, from left to right: Keith Boles, ‘Bunny’ Burrows, Reg Mitchell and Sonny Gaspard in front of the MOTAT Mosquito. Dave Homewood photo.

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.

Above: Bunny Burrows receiving his brevet in 1942. NZBCA Collection.

Above: No. 487 (NZ) Squadron crews. Bunny Burrows on the right and his pilot F/O Kassler on the left.
NZBCA Collection.

Above: No. 109 Squadron Kiwis at Little Staughton , Keith Boles is front left. NZBCA Collection.

Above: Keith Boles’ special 100th birthday gift , a Mosquito made from recycled Mosquito timber. Peter Wheeler Photo.

Above: No. 488 (NZ) Squadron night fighter aircrews at readiness. Reg Mitchell photo. Reg Mitchell collection.

Above: Above: Reg Mitchell at RNZAF Station Woodbourne, 1941. Reg Mitchell collection.

Above: Reg Mitchell, left, with his navigator. Reg Mitchell collection.

Above: No. 1 Navigators course. RNZAF Station Wigram. L-R: Back; Leans, Martial “Sonny” Gaspard, Stevens, Lafferty. Front; Collins, Campbell, Williams, Miller. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo.

Above: Left to Right – No. 75 Squadron aircrew Bob Scott, Bill Annand, Nelson Bright, Colin Hanson, Dave Cohu and Sonny Gaspard, preparing to sink the stricken vessel Lutterworth (not the Shuttleworth, as Sonny remembered). Dave Cohu collection.

Above: No. 75 Squadron RNZAF Mossie crews, left to right: Colin Hanson, ‘Joe’ Mace, Ernest Gartrell (75 CO), Cyril Waters, Owen Staple, Ted Arundel, ‘Mac’ McBean, Noel Fraser, Sonny Gaspard, Tony Williams, Rod Dahlberg, Mitch Mitchell, Gordon Shearer. RNZAF Official Photo.

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

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