Keith Park
Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park GCB KBE MC DFC DCL (
June 15,
1892 -
February 6,
1975) was a senior commander in the
Royal Air Force in
World War II.
Park was born near
Auckland,
New Zealand. He was the son of a Scottish geologist for a mining company. An undistinguished young man, but keen on guns and riding, Keith Park served in the cadets at school and joined the Army as a Territorial soldier in the New Zealand Field Artillery. In
1911, at age 19, he went to sea as a
purser aboard collier and passenger steamships, earning the family nickname 'skipper'.
When
World War I broke out Park left the ships and joined his artillery battery. As a non-commissioned officer he participated in the landings at
Gallipoli in April
1915, going ashore at
Anzac Cove. In the trench warfare that followed Park distinguished himself and in July 1915 gained a commission as Second Lieutenant. He commanded an artillery battery during the attack on
Suvla Bay and endured more months of squalour in the trenches. At this time he took the unusual decision to transfer from the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to the
British Army, joining the Royal Horse and Field Artillery.
Park was evacuated from Gallipoli in January
1916. The battle had left its mark on him both physically and mentally, though in later life he would remember it with nostalgia. He particularly admired the Anzac commander, Sir
William Birdwood, whose leadership style and attention to detail would be a model for Park in his later career.
After the hardship at Gallipoli, Park's battery was shipped to France to take part in the
Battle of the Somme. Here he learned the value of aerial reconnaissance, noting the manner in which German aircraft were able to spot Allied artillery for counterbattery fire and getting an early taste of flight by being taken aloft to check his battery's camouflage. On
October 21 1916 Park was blown off his horse by a German shell. Wounded, he was evacuated to England and graded 'unfit for active service', which technically meant he was unfit to ride a horse. So after a brief spell recuperating he joined the
Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in December 1916.
In the RFC, Park learned to fly. After a spell as an instructor he was posted to France and joined
48 Squadron in July
1917. Park flew the new two-seat
Bristol Fighter and soon achieved successes against German fighters, earning promotion and the
Military Cross. After a break from flying he returned to France as a
Major to command 48 Squadron. Here he showed his ability as a tough but fair commander, showing discipline, leadership and an understanding of the technical aspects of air warfare.
By the end of the war the strain of command had all but exhausted Park, but he had achieved much as a pilot and commander. He had earned a bar to his
Military Cross, the
Distinguished Flying Cross and the French
Croix de Guerre. His final tally of aircraft claims was 5 destroyed and 14 (& 1 shared) " out of control". He was also shot down twice during this period. After the Armistice he married the beautiful London socialite Dorothy 'Dol' Parish.
Between the wars Park commanded RAF stations and was an instructor before becoming a staff officer to
Air Chief Marshal Sir
Hugh Dowding in
1938.
With the rank of Air Vice Marshal Park took command of
No. 11 Group RAF, responsible for the fighter defence of London and southeast England, in April
1940. He organized fighter patrols over France during the
Dunkirk evacuation and in the
Battle of Britain his command took the brunt of the
Luftwaffe's air attacks. He gained a reputation as a shrewd tactician and a fine leader of men. However, he became embroiled in an acrimonious dispute with Air Vice Marshal
Trafford Leigh-Mallory, commander of
12 Group. His prickliness of character during the subsequent
Big Wing controversy contributed to his removal from command at the end of the battle. He was sent to Training Command.
In July
1942 he returned to action, commanding the vital air defence of
Malta. From there his squadrons participated in the North African and Sicilian campaigns. In 1945 he was appointed Allied Air Commander, South-East Asia, where he served until the end of the war.
On leaving the Royal Air Force, he personally selected a
Supermarine Spitfire to be donated to the
Auckland War Memorial Museum.
He retired in 1946 and returned to New Zealand, where he took up a number of civic roles and was elected to the
Auckland City Council. He lived in New Zealand until his death.
Sir Keith Park is commemorated by the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield, the aviation section of the
Museum of Transport and Technology, the gate guardian of which is a replica of Park's
Hawker Hurricane, OK1.
"If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I do not believe it is realised how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgement and his skill, did to save, not only this country, but the world."-
Lord Tedder – Chief of the Royal Air Force, February 1947.
Sir Keith Park, a biography, Vincent Orange.
In
Battle of Britain (film) (1969), Park was portrayed by
Trevor Howard.
*
Dict of NZ Biog*
Opinion of "The New Zealand Edge"*
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chf Mshl Park
