On The Up: Veteran pilots on decades of flying Mount Maunganui Anzac Day dawn service

Pilot Derrick Williams (back left) and Classic Flyers chief executive and pilot Andrew Gormlie in a Yak-52, one of two aircraft set to fly over the Anzac Day dawn service at Mount Maunganui on Saturday. Photo / Ross Brown

Pilot Andrew Gormlie has flown the Mount Maunganui Anzac dawn service for about 20 years.

Derrick Williams has done more than 40.

Gormlie describes himself as the “lucky young 60-year-old”, still playing “apprentice” to Williams, 88.

Both will take to the skies again - though Williams will be in the back seat.

Losing medical clearance brought a reluctant end to his 53-year flying career last May.

Williams’ said it was a “privilege” flying out to the rising sun on Anzac morning.

Gormlie said he would have to “behave” with the “master watching”.

He described flying next to Williams as, at times, “remarkable”.

Headed out to sea with the rising sun, Gormlie watched the light shine behind William’s aircraft, silhouetted as thick white smoke released from the exhaust.

“First thing you say to yourself is, ‘man, I wish I could just snapshot this’.”

Gormlie said it was a “special thing” to be part of - “we really enjoy it”.

They typically flew Harvards, but two Yak-52 Russian trainers will go up this year as a part of the annual Classic Flyers Anzac parade flyover.

The sound of the aircraft was “very emotional”, Gormlie said - even from on the ground.

Crowds at Anzac Day services were “growing in size” as “people are understanding the gravity” of the day, he said.

It may be “old-fashioned”, but “all walks of life can be involved”, with many having a personal connection.

“Younger people are becoming aware of the sacrifices made.

“There aren’t too many opportunities to show up to something like this, so when you get the chance, you do,” Gormlie said.

A strong community turnout at the Mount Maunganui Dawn Service in 2024. Photo / Simon Dawson Photography.

Preparation begins the day before, with the aircraft checked, engines run and readied for the early start.

The crew ran through a briefing, determining who’s flying, when they’ll be airborne and how the flyover will unfold.

On the morning itself, they gather at Classic Flyers NZ for breakfast.

They were both involved in the organisation - Gormlie as chief executive and trustee.

The cafe and museum will be open from 6.30am. Gormlie said a crowd often gathered to watch the aircraft leave.

He encouraged people to “get out of bed” and support the service.

Gormilie and Williams tried to attend a few different ones each year.

Anzac Day services in Tauranga:

Today, Anzac Day services are happening across Tauranga to remember and honour our past and present servicemen and women.

There are some changes to services this year:

There will be no separate Mount Maunganui Civic Service at 9.30am.

Instead, the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service will incorporate both the Tauranga and Mount Maunganui RSAs.

Holding the city-led civic service in one location reflects a unified approach to remembrance across Tauranga.

The Tauranga Dawn Service, previously held at the old Tauranga RSA on Cameron Rd, will take place at Memorial Park.

Hosting the dawn service at Memorial Park brings the commemoration to a central civic location and will be followed by the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service at 9.30am.

Services in Tauranga in 2026:

Tauranga Moana Tūmatauenga Anzac Commemorations

• Time: 5.45am
• Location: Opopoti Maungatapu Marae
• Opopoti (Maungatapu) Marae

Mount Maunganui Dawn Service

• Time: 6am
• Location: Mount Maunganui Cenotaph, Marine Parade

Tauranga Dawn Service

• Time: 6am
• Location: Memorial Park, Memorial Field

Pāpāmoa Memorial Dawn Service

• Time: 6am
• Location: Pāpāmoa Memorial, Stella Place beach car park

Tauranga Civic Memorial Service

• Time: 9.30am
• Location: Memorial Park, Memorial Field

Pyes Pā Remembrance Service

• Time: 11am
• Location: Pyes Pā Cemetery, 403 Pyes Pā Rd

There are free park and ride services for the Mount Dawn, Tauranga Dawn and Tauranga Civic Memorial Services.

For the full list of Anzac Day services and event details, please visit the Tauranga City Council website.

Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.