Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 25, 2017 21:38:56 GMT 12
I posted this to Facebook a little earlier and I'll post it here too:
I have just arrived home after a trip down to RNZAF Base Ohakea. I had the great pleasure to be invited by the Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, W/C Mike Cannon to join the squadron for a very special dining in that they held to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. No. 3 Squadron was involved in that battle as part of the Cactus Air Force, and I was pleased to provide some information and photos to the squadron from my own research to assist with a couple of presentations that were being made during the dinner.
I am extremely grateful to Wing Commander Cannon for the invitation and for also making the squadron available to me to spend the day there yesterday. I'm also especially grateful to Squadron Leader Ron "Thax" Thacker for looking after me on the trip, sorting out accommodation, meals etc. He's a legend!
Everyone I met on No. 3 Squadron was really friendly and helpful, and once again I was reminded what a fantastic group of people it is that makes up our Air Force. When you're away from the RNZAF for a while you forget a little just how excellent a bunch the Air Force members are, there's really no other group of people like them. Nothing's too much trouble, they can do anything without a fuss, and they always do it with a smile and a laugh.
It was also fantastic to visit the Central Flying School and No. 14 Squadron hangar and get a personal tour from Squadron Leader Sean Perrett. And to also visit Brendon Deere and catch up for a chat too.
I should also add that on this visit I had a few new experiences - my first time in the Officers' Mess (brilliant) and the W/O's and SNCO's Mess (also brilliant - the civilian catering staff there now are far better than any of the Air Force staff in my day, awesome food all round!). And thanks to Thax I also got to have a fly in his A109 helicopter simulator, which was amazing!!!
Most appreciated too was Ohakea actually turned on the best weather I have ever seen there, ever, in the world. My long-held opinion of that base's weather in winter may have been turned right round, haha.
Thanks again to the wonderful folks at Ohakea!
I have just arrived home after a trip down to RNZAF Base Ohakea. I had the great pleasure to be invited by the Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, W/C Mike Cannon to join the squadron for a very special dining in that they held to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. No. 3 Squadron was involved in that battle as part of the Cactus Air Force, and I was pleased to provide some information and photos to the squadron from my own research to assist with a couple of presentations that were being made during the dinner.
I am extremely grateful to Wing Commander Cannon for the invitation and for also making the squadron available to me to spend the day there yesterday. I'm also especially grateful to Squadron Leader Ron "Thax" Thacker for looking after me on the trip, sorting out accommodation, meals etc. He's a legend!
Everyone I met on No. 3 Squadron was really friendly and helpful, and once again I was reminded what a fantastic group of people it is that makes up our Air Force. When you're away from the RNZAF for a while you forget a little just how excellent a bunch the Air Force members are, there's really no other group of people like them. Nothing's too much trouble, they can do anything without a fuss, and they always do it with a smile and a laugh.
It was also fantastic to visit the Central Flying School and No. 14 Squadron hangar and get a personal tour from Squadron Leader Sean Perrett. And to also visit Brendon Deere and catch up for a chat too.
I should also add that on this visit I had a few new experiences - my first time in the Officers' Mess (brilliant) and the W/O's and SNCO's Mess (also brilliant - the civilian catering staff there now are far better than any of the Air Force staff in my day, awesome food all round!). And thanks to Thax I also got to have a fly in his A109 helicopter simulator, which was amazing!!!
Most appreciated too was Ohakea actually turned on the best weather I have ever seen there, ever, in the world. My long-held opinion of that base's weather in winter may have been turned right round, haha.
Thanks again to the wonderful folks at Ohakea!
