Background
Olver was born in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
Olver was born in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
He trained as a pilot after joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and joined Number. 611 Squadron Royal Air Force in September 1940 as a Pilot Officer. He then joined Number. 603 Squadron Royal Air Force based at Royal Air Force Hornchurch.
On 18 October 1940 he bailed out on his first sortie after being attacked by a Messerschmitt Me109 and was injured on landing.
He quickly recovered and after claiming his first kill he joined Number. 66 Squadron Royal Air Force with which he shot down at least three more aircraft.
After posting to North Africa he became the commander of Number. 238 Squadron Royal Air Force and Number.
213 Squadron Royal Air Force flying the Hawker Hurricane and destroyed three Italian biplane fighters on the ground.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, he commanded 1 Squadron SAAF flying MK V Spitfires, destroyed an Italian Macchi C.202 fighter and was promoted to Wing Commander when the existing commander was killed. Following the Allied invasion of Sicily he shot down an Me109 but was then himself attacked and crash landed. He then spent the remainder of the war as a PoW in camps, including Stalag Luft III.
After Kenyan Independence he returned to the United Kingdom where he farmed in Devon and Wiltshire.
He had four sons.