Five flight crew operating out of HMAS Albatross didn’t have the opportunity to attend any Anzac Day services on Monday morning, but did “visit” several on the day.
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They were doing fly-overs of a number of services throughout the day in two Royal Australian Navy Bell 429 helicopters.
You could say the journey south to Merimbula from Nowra was a long one for the crew, but travel time comes nowhere close to the near four-hour journey by car.
The pilots said they had zig-zagged above a series of services from Kiama, Batemans Bay, Moruya south to the final stop in Merimbula, where the two aircraft re-fuelled.
The crew were expected back on deck at HMAS Albatross at about 2pm Saturday, but estimated a flight time of just over one hour as a straight-shot back to base.
The fly-overs were arranged by the Eurobodalla and Far South Coast National Servicemen’s Association.
“This event follows the successful flyover of a RAAF C130 Hercules aircraft during last year’s Anzac Centenary parades and we now welcome the involvement and support of the Royal Australian Navy in helping us to remember the sacrifice the Anzacs made,” Nashos local district president Alan Shephard said.
“It is important that we all appreciate the importance of conducting commemorative services to remember our servicemen and women.
“The support of the RAN will truly make this a memorial event.”