Richard Bolt (RNZAF officer)

Sir Richard Bolt
Born(1923-07-16)16 July 1923
Auckland, New Zealand
Died27 July 2014(2014-07-27) (aged 91)
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
AllegianceNew Zealand
Service / branchRoyal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service1942–1980
RankAir Marshal
CommandsChief of the Defence Staff (1976–80)
Chief of the Air Staff (1974–76)
No. 24 Squadron (1955–57)
No. 40 Squadron (1954–55)
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross

Air Marshal Sir Richard Bruce Bolt, KBE, CB, DFC, AFC (16 July 1923 – 27 July 2014) was a bomber pilot in the Second World War and a senior Royal New Zealand Air Force officer in the post-war years. He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1974 to 1976 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1976 to 1980, when he retired from the military.