Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2010 20:04:48 GMT 12
I was very fortunate to be able to attend the Christmas Luncheon of the Ad Astra Club at Classic Flyers Museum, Tauranga today. Many thanks to Mel Salisbury for kindly giving me a lift to Tauranga and being a real life saver.
The event was for RNZAF and other Air Force veterans (mostly WWII) of the Ad Astra Club which nis based in Tauranga, but also invited along were members of the Bomber Command Association, many of whom came down in the charted Dakota. And there were other interested folk and historians there too.
Some of the veterans I had met and interviewed before. It was nice to catch up again with Les Munro, he is a legend and such a nice bloke. I got to see some good friends such as Peter Wheeler, Larry Hill, Warren Denholm, Phil Furner and Diane at the museum. And I finally got to meet several other friends face to face whom I'd only known via the forum or email before, such as Mel already mentioned, Stu Boyes, Glen Turner, Andrew Gormlie, Graham Clayton (who's next book on No. 488 (NZ) Squadron is not far away from publication too.). And I met another forum member, Mel Douglas, who had some wonderful side profile artworks he's done and will release soon as prints.
A highlight was the talk by the guest speaker, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott, who gave a great talk on the current state of the RNZAF plus its near future. Afterwards I was pleased to meet him in person and have a chat, he's a very nice chap.
Many thanks to the Ad Astra group, especially Ray Stratford, and to the Classic Flyers Museum staff for a woinderful event. It was great to meet old friends nad make new ones. There were around 90 people there all told I guess, plus local photogaphers and TV3 news reporter Bob McNeil and his crew. And I have to add that the meal the caterers put on was fantastic and got great comments all round at our table.
The event was for RNZAF and other Air Force veterans (mostly WWII) of the Ad Astra Club which nis based in Tauranga, but also invited along were members of the Bomber Command Association, many of whom came down in the charted Dakota. And there were other interested folk and historians there too.
Some of the veterans I had met and interviewed before. It was nice to catch up again with Les Munro, he is a legend and such a nice bloke. I got to see some good friends such as Peter Wheeler, Larry Hill, Warren Denholm, Phil Furner and Diane at the museum. And I finally got to meet several other friends face to face whom I'd only known via the forum or email before, such as Mel already mentioned, Stu Boyes, Glen Turner, Andrew Gormlie, Graham Clayton (who's next book on No. 488 (NZ) Squadron is not far away from publication too.). And I met another forum member, Mel Douglas, who had some wonderful side profile artworks he's done and will release soon as prints.
A highlight was the talk by the guest speaker, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott, who gave a great talk on the current state of the RNZAF plus its near future. Afterwards I was pleased to meet him in person and have a chat, he's a very nice chap.
Many thanks to the Ad Astra group, especially Ray Stratford, and to the Classic Flyers Museum staff for a woinderful event. It was great to meet old friends nad make new ones. There were around 90 people there all told I guess, plus local photogaphers and TV3 news reporter Bob McNeil and his crew. And I have to add that the meal the caterers put on was fantastic and got great comments all round at our table.
