veterans at tomorrow's Armistice Day parade.

The Commonwealth Naval Aviators are holding a reunion on the Island to commemorate Armistice Day and Taranto Day which both fall on November 11.

More than 100 people are involved in the reunion including the aviators, their wives and family members.

They have arrived in Bermuda from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States to meet with local members.

Organiser, Bermudian Mr. Geoffrey (Dickie) Bird said: "It is the first ever reunion in Bermuda. It is generally held every three years although there are events in their own countries every year.

"We decided to have it over Armistice Day because it is nice to see them mixing with our war veterans during the parade.

"It also coincides with Taranto Day, which was the night in 1941 when Swordfish Planes sank the Italian fleet while it was docked in Taranto in Italy.'' Mr. Bird was delighted when Mr. Dougie Williams announced he was coming to Bermuda on the reunion trip. The two men were cabin-mates on HMS Formidable and HMS Implacable .

Welshman Mr. Williams has lived in Canada since the war and has kept in touch with Mr. Bird, but they have not seen each other for 17 years.

The UK party, numbering around 37, include members of the Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association, which has a membership totalling 3,000, according to former membership secretary, Ms Frances McNulty.

As well as helping serving and former Fleet Air Arm officers, it also organises scholarships and gliding lessons for youngsters to encourage interest in the Royal Navy.

The party has been sightseeing around the Island this week. Yesterday, they visited the Royal Naval Dockyard and were invited onto HMS Coventry which is docked there this week. They were given a tour of Hamilton Harbour by Jessie James Cruises.

Capt. Sir David Tibbits was also on the trip to help guide the visitors around the Island. Sir David, the first captain of HMS Hermes in 1959, was present at Taranto.

He said: "I watched as 24 planes went off and 22 came back. We expected less than half to return.'' Eighty five year-old Mr. Hank Rotherham, visiting from Canada, was enjoying the trip but also using it as an opportunity to sell his book about flying during the war, "It's Really Quite Safe.'' The book has sold well in Canada and the UK and is now on sale in Bermuda.

FLIERS UNITED -- Commonwealth Naval Aviators are holding a reunion in Bermuda with members from all over the world. Here they are pictured setting off on a cruise to Dockyard.