New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release
5 December 2008

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Change is in the air at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea as Number 3 Squadron comes under new command.

The change of command parade, held today at 11.00am in front of the 3 Squadron hangar, saw outgoing Commanding Officer (CO) Wing Commander Ian MacPherson farewelled and new CO Wing Commander Russell Mardon welcomed into the role.

WGCDR MacPherson has been CO of Number 3 Squadron for over two years and says although he sad to be leaving his current post, he looking forward to his new position as the Air Force’s Air Adviser in London.

“I take with me some great experiences of my time as CO of 3 Squadron. The work the squadron has done in places such as Timor Leste show what a dynamic and committed group of people we have serving in the RNZAF.”

For WGCDR Mardon, his new surrounds will literally be a hop, skip and jump away from his former office where he served as CO of Operational Support Wing at Base Ohakea.

“Overseeing the functional aspects of Base Ohakea has been fantastic, but I am looking forward to getting back into the operational side of things that 3 Squadron does such as search and rescue, medical evacuation and supporting agencies such as the New Zealand Police.”

ENDS