Iroquois crewman 'a national hero' - father

Daniel Stephen Gregory. Photo / Rachael Main,

The father of one of three Air Force crewmen killed in the Anzac Day Iroquois crash has paid tribute to a popular and determined son, brother and husband who he described as a "national hero".

Steve Gregory, the father of Flying Officer Daniel Stephen Gregory, 28, addressed media at Ohakea Air Base today.

"Dan died doing the thing he loved to do best on the day of days. He never missed an Anzac Day," Mr Gregory said.

He also addressed his son personally: "No one who ever met you will ever forget you, you will be in our thoughts forever."

Flying Officer Gregory, Flight Lieutenant Hayden Peter Madsen, 33, and Corporal Benjamin Andrew Carson, 25, were killed when their Iroquois hit a hill at Pukerua Bay, about 40km north of Wellington, as it headed from Ohakea Air Base for an Anzac Day dawn flypast in Wellington.

Mr Gregory said his son had lived at the base with his wife of two years, Sarah, and the family was drawing comfort and support from the Air Force family, who he described as his son's "second family".

"I don't think I would want to be anywhere else," Mr Gregory said.

He said the Gregory family had met with the other two families affected by the crash, describing it as poignant but brief.

"It is nice to know there are other people going through the same emotions," Mr Gregory said.

He said Dan had followed in his grandfather's footsteps by serving with the Air Force. He kept his grandfather's logbook on him during his service.

"I know Dan was proud to be carrying on in the family tradition," Mr Gregory said.

He said his son had also served as a rifleman in the Army with postings to Afghanistan and East Timore.

Mr Gregory said his son's transition from one force to the other was a sign of his driving determination which had seen him "jump through so many hoops" including re-sitting sixth form certificate physics while serving in Afghanistan.

Mr Gregory and his wife Wendy, Dan's mother, had visited the base only three weeks ago to stay with them and had been given a tour by his son who was very proud of where he worked.

"Dan was simply our son, Stuart's big brother, Sarah's husband and everyone else's friend," Mr Gregory said.

He described meeting his daughter-in-law for the first time at a Lions rugby match in Wellington on one of the couple's first dates in 2005.

"I loved the way he loved Sarah. It was beautiful to see how well they got along," Mr Gregory said.

He said it was surreal to see his son's photo on the front pages of newspapers and on the television news.

"You can't help but feel proud but it is also... not the way you would want it to be," Mr Gregory said.

He also described the horror of receiving the news that no parent ever wants to hear.

"I would much rather he was at my funeral, making arrangements for me. No parent wants to outlive their son but it is made slightly better because we know he died doing what he wanted to do," Mr Gregory said.

The three men will be farewelled together with full military honours on Thursday.