Airman son 'a national hero'

Steve Gregory. Photo / Mark Mitchell

To get into the Air Force, Flying Officer Dan Gregory had to re-sit 6th Form Certificate physics - while he was serving in Afghanistan as a rifleman in the Army.

The efforts of the 28-year-old Torbay man are just one of many reminders to his family of his determination and his ability to make things happen.

"If he set his sights on something it generally happened," his father, Steve Gregory, said yesterday.

Dan Gregory was one of three Air Force crewmen who died in an Iroquois helicopter crash in the hills above Pukerua Bay, 40km north of Wellington on Anzac Day.

Flight Lieutenant Hayden Peter Madsen, 33, and Corporal Benjamin Andrew Carson, 25, also died in the accident and a fourth man, Sergeant Stevin Creeggan is recovering in Wellington Hospital.

Paying tribute to his son, Mr Gregory spoke proudly, describing him as a "national hero" as he shared one of his final memories.

He said he and his wife Wendy, Dan's mother, visited their son and daughter-in-law Sarah at their home on the base at Easter.

They played pinball on a machine painted red and black - Dan's team, Squadron 3's colours - which he said was yet another reminder of his son's can-do attitude.

Members of the Squadron had been talking about getting a pinball machine for months, but when Dan became a member of the social committee he got one installed and painted.

"It just sort of shows you he was a person that got things done. There was no mucking around. He realised what needed to happen and he just made it happen and there it was. We had a game on it, just for laughs really, it was fun.

"We've got unbelievably happy memories of that time and I took photos of Daniel in front of the New Zealand flag."

Mr Gregory joined the Army and served as a rifleman with postings in Afghanistan and East Timor.

Then he made the transition to the Air Force, where he had a meteoric rise through the ranks.

"His military record is public knowledge and it's a source of great pride to us all.

"Dan has sort of become the property of all of New Zealand and that's fitting and right. We couldn't be more proud to share him with this great nation whom he served with such distinction and honour."

Dan Gregory followed in his grandfather Keith Gregory's footsteps by serving in the Air Force and kept his grandfather's log book with him as an inspiration.

He said his son was an outstanding sportsman and an "infinitely patient" older brother to Stuart, 26.

Mr Gregory said he met his daughter-in-law for the first time on one of the couple's first dates in Wellington on the night of the Lions and All Blacks rugby match in 2005.

"I really loved the way he loved Sarah. It was beautiful to see how well they got along.

"I loved his positive and optimistic approach to life and his can-do attitude. He constantly blew me away with the things that he accomplished. He could literally turn his hand to anything. I totally admired his commitment."

Mr Gregory described a brief but poignant meeting with the other two families on Monday and said the families had taken comfort in sharing their grief.