West Australian WWII pilot dies aged 101

One of Western Australia’s oldest and most decorated World War II soldiers has died at the age of 101.

Doug Arrowsmith lived a remarkable life as a decorated bomber pilot who remained humble to the end.

Even in his last year, Arrowsmith was still driving the same Holden he had owned for 54 years.

The WWII pilot flew 35 missions, where the survival rate was less than one in 10.

RSL WA president Duncan Anderson described Arrowsmith’s life as the stuff of legends.

Arrowsmith just described himself as lucky.

“I don’t think I was ever afraid,” he told 9News Perth last year.

“I think a major part was, I’m in charge, I’ve got a job to do and I’m going to do it well.”

When he returned from the war, he had a successful career in banking and an extraordinary run in lawn bowls, representing WA 51 times.

His marriage to wife Helen lasted 68 years.

Doug Arrowsmith as a young pilot.

When 9News Perth interviewed Arrowsmith ahead of Anzac Day in 2023, he said it was important children didn’t forget the meaning behind the day.

He cast his mind back to a war memorial he saw in England: “There were names on the wall of over 20,000 airmen who have unknown graves.”

“These are the sort of things that the young people, they need to know about this sort of thing, and those people who were involved and how they saved Australia,” he said.

Doug Arrowsmith is survived by his two children, four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

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