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Flight Lieutenant 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 last night at the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa) as part of the Air Force 70th Anniversary celebrations.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
30 March 2007

Air Force 70th Commemorations Off to Flying Start

The drums and brass of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Central Band got the Air Force’s 70th anniversary commemorations off on a high note last night during a ceremony at the Museum of New Zealand.

The 8pm commemorations involved the band playing a Beat the Retreat - a ceremony which has become a traditional way of commemorating the fallen in all Commonwealth armed forces.

The commemorations were hosted by Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott and were attended by more than 300 service men and women and members of the public.

A separate smaller ceremony will be held on Sunday (April 1) at Old St Pauls Church while personnel at RNZAF bases around the country will celebrate the occasion with local personalities.

ENDS

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