PAST and present defence force personnel were treated to a ‘diamond nine’ flypast as part of this year’s Tamworth aircrew reunion.
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Aircrew from around the country came together in Tamworth this weekend as part of a longstanding tradition in the defence community.
Since 1951,the North and North West Aircrew Reunion has brought together people to pay particular respect to those who have not been as lucky as others.
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With BAE Systems air force training in Tamworth winding down this year, the facility gave the aircrew a rousing send-off.
“That’s a special one,” Air Commodore (ret’d) Noddy Sawade said.
“There’s a new training system starting down in Victoria next year.
“This will be the last opportunity to do a fly by of this nature for this group.”
Mr Sawade, an Adelaide man, has been making the trek to Tamworth for the reunion since 1977.
He said it was about keeping the “spirit of aircrew” alive.
“We’ve lost a lot of friends and comrades along the way through aircraft accidents and previously through World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars,” he said.
“It’s just a way of reflecting.”
Heading into the weekend, there were concerns welcome wet weather could put a dampener on the occasion and cause the fly-by to be scratched.
But the aircrew, and the city, was treated to the display and the weekend’s proceedings ran smoothly.
Following the formal dinner on Saturday the group laid wreathes at Anzac Park.