Returning colleagues pay tribute

Tears: Air Lance Corporal Tomina Apiti mourns the loss of her colleagues. Photo / Getty Images

The moment Air Force staff at Ohakea were to begin to mourn their three dead, a group of 39 of their colleagues began a moment's silence 30,000 feet in the air above Singapore.

The Boeing 757 returning from Gallipoli is carrying about 80 defence personnel, half of whom are Air Force. They had found out about the deaths while at Anzac Cove waiting for the Dawn Service to begin, but were unable to return in time for yesterday's funeral for Flight Lieutenant Hayden Madsen, Flying Officer Daniel Gregory and crewman Corporal Ben Carson.

It was an emotional service for those who knew the men killed, with tears flowing during the prayers for each of the men and as the Maori cultural group led How Great Thou Art, many crying as they sang.

A former commanding officer of No 3 Squadron, RSA President Robin Klitscher, spoke on behalf of the 22 veterans on the trip and the RSA members back in New Zealand.

Wing Commander Brett Marshall read out Low Flight - the same poem that was read at the funeral of the Iroquois pilot who died in January. The poem was adapted for the No 3 Squadron Iroquois pilots from another poem about fixed-wing planes.

Wing Commander Marshall had organised the 25 minute mid-air service for the 160 on the flight to allow them to take part in the farewells after an upsetting few days because they were unable to return home in time for the funerals.

The service also commemorated the death of Tahuna Tahapeehi, who died in a motorcycle crash at Linton, and was led by Defence Force principal chaplain Don Parker.

Another airman on the flight, Sergeant Craig Collis, read out a poem he had written to commemorate the trip to Gallipoli and the deaths of the airmen at home while that journey was under way.