It is not often that interruptions to an Anzac Day service are welcome, but they were yesterday when a 1943 P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft flew over the Wangaratta cenotaph.
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Wangaratta RSL secretary Greg Larkins was happy to pause his welcoming address a couple of times as the roar of the plane took over and all eyes looked up to the sky.
“Doesn’t that sounds great?” he said.
“This magnificent fully-restored Kittyhawk actually served and saw combat during World War II.
“It was reclaimed from Papua New Guinea and fully restored by Doug Hamilton, owner of Classic Air Adventures in Wangaratta, who is our pilot today.”
Hundreds turned out for Wangaratta’s dawn service, street parade and 11am ceremony at the cenotaph.
As well as serving as an important day for families to remember soldiers who died in wars, Anzac Day services continue to be attended by mostly young children.
They have the chance to both march in the parade and learn about the history of battles.
This year’s service address was delivered by Wangaratta High School senior student Ethan Creminara.
Speaking on the 100th anniversary of the final year of World War I, where the German army attempted a final offensive on the Western Front, Mr Creminara reflected on the Battle of Hamel in July 1918.
He said it was a major contribution Australian soldiers made the the Allies’ victory after four years of fighting.
“It was outstandingly executed, if any battle can be so described,” he said.
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