Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2006 11:49:32 GMT 12
From here
www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3675409&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
The chaps are back for nostalgic reunion
08.03.2006
ROGER MORONEY
Once an air force man, always an air force man.
At Saturday evening's reunion dinner of 485 (NZ) Squadron in Napier, organiser Max Collett began calling the chaps together for a group photograph.
When it came to approaching their special guest, Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshall John Hamilton, Mr Collett automatically added the word "sir".
It's as it would have been back in 1944, had Mr Collett and his Spitfire-flying squadron mates hosted a senior officer of Air-Vice Marshall Hamilton's stature in the mess.
But the air vice-marshall wasn't standing on too much ceremony during the annual gathering of the squadron .
.. he was simply delighted to be in the company of men who had served together in extraordinary circumstances, and forged an unbreakable bond.
"These are remarkable men," he said, nodding to the veterans who cheerily recalled some of the scrapes and the characters they had encountered during their service, and of course the cobbers they lost.
"These guys went into combat with little experience and at a very young age. When you look at the photos of them back then ... it makes you think."
One thing that had not changed despite the passing of six decades was the camaraderie, Air Vice-Marshall Hamilton said.
A good Central Hawke's Bay-born lad, he joined the RNZAF in 1971 as a university officer cadet based at Wigram and gained his wings in 1975, and went on to fly Sioux and Iroquois helicopters with 3 Squadron out of Hobsonville.
His has been a sparkling career, with exchange postings to the UK, US and Australia, along with a rise through the ranks and taking up the post of commanding officer of operations at base Auckland in 1993. But it may all be coming to an end in a month or so as he is set to end his stint with the air force.
"Oh I'd do it all over again," he said with a smile after being asked about his flying career.
But he'll still keep his hand in, so to speak, as he has continued to do despite being effectively desk-bound in recent years.
"I still go up and have a bit of a play in the 172 (Cessna)," he said.
Kiwis could be proud of their air force, he said, adding that the fine reputation it had built up internationally was no fluke.
"We get the job done."
No other country the size of New Zealand had thrown itself into humanitarian and peace-keeping roles the way New Zealand had.
The peacetime "get the job done" philosophy, and the pride and high standards which are pursued, echoed the efforts and sacrifices of the boys 60-odd years ago.
And like the Air Vice-Marshall reflecting on the job being done today, there was a clear pride among the veterans about their job.
Another to praise the boys of 485 was patron Sir Tim Wallis who flew up to Hawke's Bay from his Wanaka home especially for the reunion.
And Mr Collett was delighted to be able to say "not a bad gathering" when he went through the attendee list.
The chief of the air force, a knight of the realm, a wing commander, five squadron leaders, five flight lieutenants ... yes, not a bad line-up.
And when it came to toasting all the ranks and all those involved with the Kiwi Spitfire squadron of all those years ago, no one raised their glass higher than the man who runs the show today. In the words of Air Vice-Marshall John Hamilton ... "here's to them."
www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3675409&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
The chaps are back for nostalgic reunion
08.03.2006
ROGER MORONEY
Once an air force man, always an air force man.
At Saturday evening's reunion dinner of 485 (NZ) Squadron in Napier, organiser Max Collett began calling the chaps together for a group photograph.
When it came to approaching their special guest, Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshall John Hamilton, Mr Collett automatically added the word "sir".
It's as it would have been back in 1944, had Mr Collett and his Spitfire-flying squadron mates hosted a senior officer of Air-Vice Marshall Hamilton's stature in the mess.
But the air vice-marshall wasn't standing on too much ceremony during the annual gathering of the squadron .
.. he was simply delighted to be in the company of men who had served together in extraordinary circumstances, and forged an unbreakable bond.
"These are remarkable men," he said, nodding to the veterans who cheerily recalled some of the scrapes and the characters they had encountered during their service, and of course the cobbers they lost.
"These guys went into combat with little experience and at a very young age. When you look at the photos of them back then ... it makes you think."
One thing that had not changed despite the passing of six decades was the camaraderie, Air Vice-Marshall Hamilton said.
A good Central Hawke's Bay-born lad, he joined the RNZAF in 1971 as a university officer cadet based at Wigram and gained his wings in 1975, and went on to fly Sioux and Iroquois helicopters with 3 Squadron out of Hobsonville.
His has been a sparkling career, with exchange postings to the UK, US and Australia, along with a rise through the ranks and taking up the post of commanding officer of operations at base Auckland in 1993. But it may all be coming to an end in a month or so as he is set to end his stint with the air force.
"Oh I'd do it all over again," he said with a smile after being asked about his flying career.
But he'll still keep his hand in, so to speak, as he has continued to do despite being effectively desk-bound in recent years.
"I still go up and have a bit of a play in the 172 (Cessna)," he said.
Kiwis could be proud of their air force, he said, adding that the fine reputation it had built up internationally was no fluke.
"We get the job done."
No other country the size of New Zealand had thrown itself into humanitarian and peace-keeping roles the way New Zealand had.
The peacetime "get the job done" philosophy, and the pride and high standards which are pursued, echoed the efforts and sacrifices of the boys 60-odd years ago.
And like the Air Vice-Marshall reflecting on the job being done today, there was a clear pride among the veterans about their job.
Another to praise the boys of 485 was patron Sir Tim Wallis who flew up to Hawke's Bay from his Wanaka home especially for the reunion.
And Mr Collett was delighted to be able to say "not a bad gathering" when he went through the attendee list.
The chief of the air force, a knight of the realm, a wing commander, five squadron leaders, five flight lieutenants ... yes, not a bad line-up.
And when it came to toasting all the ranks and all those involved with the Kiwi Spitfire squadron of all those years ago, no one raised their glass higher than the man who runs the show today. In the words of Air Vice-Marshall John Hamilton ... "here's to them."
