WARRANT OFFICER  MYLES JAMES PATRIC BOYD

13.12.1938 – 10.08.2011

Pat was born in Brakpan South Africa and was educated at Nottingham Road Boarding School in the Midlands of Natal, some 65Km west of Pietermaritsburg.

Joining the South African Air Force in 1955, he underwent Basic Training at the newly created Air Force Gymnasium and qualified as an aircraft fitter at 68 Air School at the end of 1959.

In 1963 Pat married Joan Dawson, a union that lasted for the next 48 years until his passing to higher service. He had two sons, Myles and Steven and a daughter Allison.

By the time Pat retired in 1987, he had 32 years of service and had attained the rank of Warrant Officer II. During this time he had served with various Squadrons and Units, including, 12 Squadron, 7 Squadron and 35 Squadron. Aircraft types worked on included the Harvard, Impala, Canberra and the Shackleton.

He went on to join the SA Air Force Reserve, serving as an aircraft fitter on Shackleton 1722 up until the end of 2010 when ill health prevented him from assisting with the remaining crew on the aircraft.

Pat saw service at the front in the War of 1966 – 1989 with 12 Squadron on Canberra’s. He was awarded the Pro Patria medal, 10, 20 and 30 year Good Service Medals. He was also a keen member of the MOTH Order and was a member of the Tommy Rendle VC Shell Hole in Brooklyn Cape Town.

As a member of the SAAF Museum in his Reserve Force role, Patrick’s contribution to the technical division of the SAAF Museum has to be considered irreplaceable.