21 March 2012

Search On For NZ Veterans Of Bomber Command

Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand is looking to make contact with Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) veterans of Bomber Command, ahead of commemorative events here and in London, to mark the Dedication and Unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial.

During the Second World War, around 6000 RNZAF servicemen served with Bomber Command with a loss of 1851 New Zealanders.

On 28 June 2012, the Bomber Command Memorial will be unveiled and dedicated in London’s Green Park, to commemorate the 55,593 Bomber Command airmen who were killed during the Second World War.

Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand General Manager, Rick Ottaway says, “We are sending an official delegation of RNZAF veterans who served with Bomber Command to attend the commemoration. Their travel will be by an Air Force Boeing 757, and accommodation, transport, travel and medical costs will be funded by Veterans’ Affairs.

“We want to ensure all those RNZAF veterans who served with Bomber Command are aware of the opportunity to either be part of the official delegation travelling to London, or for their service to be acknowledged at an event here in New Zealand. It is also a time to remember those veterans who did not return home”.

The veterans, who will be aged in their late 80s to mid 90s, will have served in the RNZAF and will need to meet medical fitness criteria to ensure they are well enough to travel as part of the delegation and participate in the commemorative events.

RNZAF veterans of Bomber Command, who have not yet registered interest, are asked to contact Veterans' Affairs New Zealand on their freephone number 0800 483 8372 or email: veterans@xtra.co.nz by 30 March 2012.

Here at home there will likely be commemorations in Wellington or Auckland, to mark the dedication and unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in London.

ENDS

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