The three 3 Squadron airmen killed when their RNZAF Iroquois helicopter crashed above Pukerua Bay on the way to an Anzac Day morning memorial service were (from left): Corporal Ben Carson, aged 25, Flying Officer Daniel Gregory, aged 28, Ft Lieutenant Hayden Madsen, aged 33. Photo: NZDF

A symbol of hope

Steve Gregory

Poppies are renowned for regenerating in broken soil – they bring life back to areas of devastation and death, and so are a perfect symbol of hope.

On Anzac Day, 2010 an RNZAF Iroquois helicopter from 3 Squadron crashed in the hills above Pukerua Bay on the way to the morning memorial service – killing three young airmen and
leaving one seriously injured.

Among the casualties was my son, Flying Officer Dan Gregory.

Dan, like the other boys aboard that morning, was a patriotic New Zealander who had volunteered for this flight and was delighted to be taking part in another Anzac ceremony (his wife tells me she had never known him to be as excited by an upcoming
flight as he was for this one).

Dan never missed Anzac Day. He genuinely felt a connection to those who had gone before him and it was always an honour for him to recognise the sacrifices made by others.

Several years ago he had stood ceremonial guard over the Unknown Warrior at the Cenotaph in Wellington. It was therefore a poignant moment for Wendy and me last year to stand at the very grave in Belgium from where the anonymous body was exhumed. Knowing that this warrior, who died almost a century before, had been under the protection of our own son back in his homeland was very special for us.

It has been widely reported that Dan became a pilot the hard way – making his way from the New Zealand Army where he had served with pride for 2/1 Battalion in East Timor and Afghanistan as a rifleman.

His application to change corps had been rejected or delayed on several occasions, but his determination and refusal to give up eventually won through – including having to pass sixth-form physics while on active service in Afghanistan and learning to overcome his fear of the water to pass the swimming requirement of the selection process. From that moment on he never looked back.

This was typical of Dan. Once he set his sights on something he would establish what was required to attain it, then apply himself until it was achieved.

His grandfather, my father Keith Gregory, was an inspiration to him, having flown for Bomber Command in World War 2. He was shot down whilst bombing the German battleship Tirpitz (sister ship to the Bismark) and spent the rest of the war as a POW.

When Dan was awarded his wings, it was my father’s old wings that he proudly sewed onto his jacket.

But as proud as we are of his patriotism, his courage and his insistence on making everything as much fun as it could possibly be, the thing we are proudest of was that he was at heart a decent Kiwi boy with solid values and who loved those around him and was thought of as a good sort.

His loss is also the nation’s loss, but no one feels the pain more than his family. We will never fully get over his death, but with the support of family and friends, we are getting through this terrible time.

And, in speaking of family, I include Dan’s Ohakea family who are also grieving and who have been nothing but supportive and caring towards us.The RNZAF team members are a family in every sense of the word, and their pain at this loss of three of their brightest young men was very evident to see in the time we spent with them as their guests.

I started by talking about the symbolism of the poppy, so it is only right that when Dan’s body was recovered from the crash site, he was wearing a poppy. This has been returned to us and we will
cherish it forever as a special keepsake and a reminder of our beautiful son who died on the day of days.

Like poppies have always done, this one serves as a symbol of hope for our family.