Fly-past salutes for all regional ANZAC Day Services will this year be conducted by a replica Spitfire fighter aircraft bearing the insignia of legendary WW2 Fighter Ace, Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader.
- Spitfire To Perform ANZAC Day Salutes
(Group Captain Bader re-joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 having earlier lost both of his legs in a training accident in 1931. He was noted for his actions at Dunkirk and during the Battle of Britain despite flying with artificial legs. He was knighted in 1976 in recognition of his campaigning for the disabled.)
As in previous years the Coral Coast Chamber of Commerce & Tourism has chartered the aircraft and scheduled the fly-past salutes which are sponsored by the Bundaberg Regional Council.
Regional fly-past coordinator Greg Barnes advised that the P51D Mustang that had previously been chartered to conduct the fly-pasts was being fitted with a new engine and it was unlikely that all CASA requirements could be met in time for the ANZAC Day flights.
“We’re extremely fortunate to have secured the Spitfire at such short notice and I’m sure that it will bring back many memories for some of our older diggers”, Mr Barnes said.
Flight schedules will be similar to previous years and are listed below:
BARGARA 0605
SOUTH KOLAN 0621
ROSEDALE 0633
BUNDABERG 0915
GIN GIN 0940
CHILDERS 1000
WOODGATE 1020
ELLIOTT HEADS 1125
MOORE PARK BEACH 1145
BURNETT HEADS 1450
Fly-over circuits of the townships of Coral Cove, InnesPark, Bargara & Burnett Heads will be conducted between 11.25am and 11.45am as the aircraft transits northwards from Elliott Heads to Moore Park Beach.
-ENDS-
All enquiries to Greg Barnes on 0407 155 727 please.