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Families, and friends gathered on 27 July at the Auckland War Memorial Museum for the annual Bomber Command Memorial Service. We honoured the courage and sacrifice of New Zealand’s airmen, whose service with RAF Bomber Command remains a defining legacy of duty, resilience, and remembrance across generations.

Wreaths in  the Hall of Memories.
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)

Presidents Address

Good morning to you all and welcome to this, the 2025 Bomber Command Memorial Service.

Adding to the welcome to the service by our M/C Ian Barron, an extra special welcome to The Hon. Chris Penk  Minister for Veterans and Associate Minister Defence. The NZBCA  appreciates and  values your attendance at our service today.

For the first time, the Italian Government is represented by Ms. Lindsey Jones Honorary Consul for Italy, of Auckland.

But the biggest welcome must go to families of the veterans representing their relatives who made up the ranks of Bomber Command. Those people fought the longest campaign of the second world war limiting Germany and their Axis members ability to wage war.

It is now up to us all to remind everyone of their service and sacrifice these brave and selfless men.

NZBCA President Bruce Hebbard gives te welcoming address.
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)

 In May, the NZBCA lost a stalwart in the passing of Peter Wheeler. About 15 years ago the veterans stood back from the running of their association to enjoy the retirement they had earned. Peter singlehandedly took over the administration of the NZBCA and kept the organisation running.

Without his drive at that time, we would not be meeting here today. Rest in Peace Peter after a job well done.

My thanks to all at the Auckland War Memorial Museum for again making the Hall of Memories available to us for this service.

Thanks also to all the members of the NZBCA Committee who assisted in putting today’s service together and to the Cadets of No 3  Squadron Air Training Corps who render sterling assistance to the running of the service.

Annie Hughes sings “I Vow to Thee My Country.”
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)

 80 years ago Europe in May celebrated VE day. So what did our bomber Command Boys do after this? Some aircrew were designated to join Tiger Force in the Pacific and immediately commenced training for their new duties.

Others took part in Operation Exodus where aircrews flew into Germany to bring the recently liberated Prisoners of War back to Britian as quickly as possible. A Bomber Command Flight Sergeant who was captured in 1942 told me he dreamed what his first meal when he made it back home would be. Out of all the wonderful foods he imagined, his first request once back in the UK was bread and butter.

Many, like my father, were given periods of leave where they could visit places they had heard of or looked up relatives they had in the UK.

No matter what they were doing, the over-riding thought was to get back home. Similar thoughts were shared by the families at home who could not work out why their family member could not be back in a few weeks. But with around four thousand Aircrew to be found transport for, as well as the servicemen and women from other services  it was a logistical nightmare to organise. This mammoth task was mostly completed by Christmas 1945.

My and later generations can only thank these people for their service and sacrifice which allowed us to live in peace  and security and not having to face the prospect of waging a war in distant country, however fragile that peace has been.

Again, thank you all for your attendance here today as we remember our relatives and friends and thank them the legacy, they freely gave us.

In appreciation we bow our heads in remembrance and pledge never to forget.

Veterans Affairs Minister Chris Penk gives his address.
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)

Boguslaw Nowak, Honorary Consul Polish Embassy delivers his address.
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)

Cadet Sgt. Cameron Moffat delivers the Ode.
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)

Veterans Affairs Minister Chris Penk lays a wreath.
(Credit: Tudor Preplipceanu)