NZDF personnel return from East Timor

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) troops serving in East Timor will soon start coming home after completing a job well done. The 700 personnel coming home have served the final deployment in a 3-year long mission that has spanned six Army Battalions and 11 Airforce rotations.

Personnel will return on four flights chartered by the United Nations. The flights are scheduled to arrive from East Timor on the 9th, 15th and 20th of November and the 5th of December 2002 and are due to land at Christchurch International Airport at 4am in each instance.

NZDF senior officers will meet each flight. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal John Hamilton will meet the first flight on 9th November. The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Peter McHaffie will meet the second flight on 15th November. The Chief of General Staff, Major General Jerry Mateparae will meet the third flight on 20th November. The Commander of Headquarters, Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Martyn Dunne, will meet the final flight on 5th December.

A comprehensive information pack marking the end of New Zealand’s largest overseas deployment since Korea in the 1950s will be sent to all media next week. Media are encouraged to attend the arrival of each flight.

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