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KC/NF
12848 - Vol. 2
BO – CL

411852 : Pilot Officer Frank Bruce BOADEN.

PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Boaden of Auckland.

Frank Boaden was born at Auckland on the 18th May,
1918, and received his secondary education at Auckland Grammer
School, where he successfully passed the Matriculation examination.
Furthering his studies by night classes at Auckland University, he
passed 5 subjects for his Bachelor of Science Degree. At University
he was a member of the 1st XI and he was also the holder of the
shooting record at this institution, also being interested in rugby,
tennis and swimming. After leaving school and at the time of his
making application for training in aircrew, on the 23rd May, 1940, he
was employed as a draughtsman by the Lands and Survey Dept., Auckland.

Pilot Officer Boaden was enlisted on the 23rd March,
1941, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and on the satisfactory
completion of his initial training, proceeding on the 2nd May, 1941
to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapsi, and thence on
the 15th June, 1941, to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram,
where on the 26th July, 1941, he was awarded the flying badge and
promoted on the 6th September, 1941, to Sergeant. He was further
promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st August, 1942, and commissioned
in the rank of Pilot Officer on 31st August, 1942. Meanwhile, on
12th September, 1941, he embarked for the United Kingdom.

P/O Boaden arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre,
Bournemouth, on the 1st November, 1941, where he remained until
posting on the 1st December, 1941 to No. 2 Service Flying Training
School, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, where he trained on Oxford aircraft,
and thence at the end of December to No. 1512 Beam Approach Training
Flight, Dishforth, Yorkshire. Early in April, 1942, P/O Boaden
proceeded to No. 20 Operational Training Unit, Lossiemouth, Morayshire,
Scotland, where he converted to and trained on Wellington bomber
aircraft, and on the 13th July, 1942, he was posted to No. 149 Squadron,