70th Anniversary Commemoration

OH 07-0195-10-tn.jpg: FLTLT Michele Thomson, sword in hand, leads out the guard from Ohakea Air Force Base as the Royal New Zealand Air Force Central Band performs in the background. The Beat the Retreat ceremony was held on 29 March at the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa) as part of the Air Force 70th Anniversary celebrations.

Air Force Celebrates 70th Anniversary

The RNZAF turned 70 on 01 April 2007. Following tradition, various receptions, parades and memorial services were held at RNZAF bases and in Wellington.

In Wellington the Chief of Air Force and RNZAF personnel from around the region hosted a reception at Te Papa for approximately 200 guests to celebrate the anniversary. The centrepiece of the celebration was a ceremony at dusk in the Te Papa forecourt lead by the RNZAF Maori Cultural Group with a karakia. The Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force together with a guard from RNZAF Base

OH 07-0195-20-tn.jpg:  From left: Mrs Dianne Lintott, CAF AVM Graham Lintott, GPCAPT Moore, Mrs Sue Chentworth, socialising after the ceremony.

OH 07-0195-03-tn.jpg:  W/O George Mana leads the Maori Cultural Group in opening the ceremony.

Ohakea enthralled the audience with a Beat Retreat ceremony in an inspiring setting. The bugle was sounded and pipes played, then the guard marched off to rousing music while warriors covered the departure.

OH 07-0195-15-tn.jpg:  Lone piper SGT Murray Mansfield

On Sunday 01 April, the actual anniversary date, an impressive crowd of currently serving personnel and those who have served in the past gathered for a moving memorial service held at Old St Pauls Church where colours and standards were paraded, and the Central Band again performed.