Families pay tribute to lost airmen

(Left to right) Flight lieutenant Hayden Peter Madsen, Flying officer Daniel Stephen Gregory and Corporal Benjamin Andrew Carson. Photos / NZDF

Three young men who were dedicated to their country should have gone on to accomplish much more in the years to come.

But their lives were cut short in the early hours of yesterday morning when their helicopter crashed near Wellington, killing all three instantly.

The families and friends of Daniel Gregory, Hayden Madsen and Benjamin Carson, were yesterday mourning their loss, remembering them in their own way.

Flying officer Dan "Red" Gregory was his wife Sarah's first love.

The 28-year-old Air Force pilot doted on her and the couple lived happily at the Ohakea Air Base. Friend Kasey Calogaras last night paid tribute to him, saying: "He was just so awesome to her, he loved her so much.

"They opened their home to everyone," she said.

Cantabrian Corporal Ben Carson, 25, should have been looking forward to his birthday in two weeks. His devastated family members flew north to the Ohakea Air Base and acknowledged that Anzac Day would never be the same again.

Relative Martin Carson said: "We will be viewing [the day] in a very different light."

For the family of Flight Lieutenant Hayden Madsen, it was a proud moment when in 2005 he was awarded his wings from then Prime Minister Helen Clark.

But last night, nearly five years later, his family were coming together to mourn the loss of their son, brother and husband.

Flight Lieutenant Madsen's sister, who was at the family home in Napier last night, said she was very much missing her brother. "I've just walked in the door to find out.

"It's a bit of a shock at the moment."

Chief of the Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott, paid tribute to all three men killed in the accident, as well as the fourth man who was injured and has not yet been named.

Visibly upset, he said all three men had worked towards great futures and were far too young to be gone.

"They were all too young and all with bright futures to look forward to.

"And now we mourn their loss as we support their loved ones, friends and colleagues."

Flying Officer Gregory, a former student at Long Bay College in Auckland, was enlisted in the New Zealand Army as a rifleman.

He was deployed to Timor Leste in November 2001 for seven months and to Afghanistan in April 2004 for six months, before being promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in December.

Flying Officer Gregory was decorated with several service medals, which included a United Nations medal in East Timor.

In 2005 he worked as an electronic technician.

It was a proud day on 7 December 2006 when he graduated as a Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot officer - or as his profile page on social networking site Facebook proudly proclaims, "Flying CHOPPERS!"

Corporal Carson, who was born and grew up in Christchurch, enlisted with the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic in May 2003.

Moving up the ranks from mechanic to aircraft technician, he served in Timor Leste for four months from October 2007, where he was decorated with general and operational service medals.

His helicopter crewman training began in February 2009 and last August he was awarded a helicopter crewman brevet.

Flight Lieutenant Madsen, 33, attended Taradale High School and graduated as a qualified pilot - on the Royal New Zealand Air Force Wings Course - in May, 2005.

He served as an aircraft technician from 1996 to 2001, before re-enlisting two years later to become a pilot.

He received the New Zealand Operational Service Medal last year and was also awarded the New Zealand General Service Medal for service in East Timor, in 2008.

Friends were last night paying tribute to their fallen mate - known as "Muddy" or "Mad Dog" - on his facebook page.

Jayson Davis wrote: "[I'm] saddened at the loss of a good mate and at true, nice guy in an airforce chopper accident today. He will be sorely missed ... RIP Mad Dog."

Air Vice-Marshal Lintott said the families of the airmen were being flown to Ohakea from all over the country.

"Our families provide such staunch support to our service people that we consider them actually as part of the Air Force family," he said.

"We will be offering them every possible support and service that we can, over the next several weeks, in fact probably months."

RECORD OF HONOURS

Flight lieutenant Hayden Peter Madsen, 33, pilot:

* New Zealand General Service Medal (Timor-leste).
* New Zealand Operational Service Medal.

Flying officer Daniel Stephen Gregory, 28, pilot:

* East Timor Medal.
* New Zealand Operational Service Medal.
* NZ General Service Medal (Afghanistan) - Primary Op Area.
* United Nations Medal - UN Transitional Admin in East Timor.

Corporal Benjamin Andrew Carson, 24, helicopter crewman:

* New Zealand General Service Medal (Timor-leste).
* New Zealand Operational Service Medal.