128 Facts About Keith Park

Keith Park obtained another transfer, this time to the Royal Flying Corps.

Keith Park became a flying ace, achieving several aerial victories and eventually commanding the squadron.

Keith Park retired from the RAF in 1946 as an air chief marshal.

Keith Park was schooled at King's College in Auckland until 1905.

At Otago Boys' High, Keith Park joined the school's Cadet Corps.

Keith Park had always enjoyed boats and within the Park family was known as "Skipper".

Keith Park went to sea as a purser aboard collier and passenger steamships, initially on vessels sailing along the coast but later on ships travelling to Australia and islands in the Pacific.

Keith Park served as a Territorial soldier in the New Zealand Field Artillery from March 1911 to November 1913.

Keith Park enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 14 December 1914, and was posted to the Field Artillery.

Keith Park was promoted to corporal in early February 1915.

Keith Park departed New Zealand the same month as part of the third draft of reinforcements for the NZEF, destined for the Middle East.

Keith Park was commander of a 12-pounder naval gun, which was often subject to Turkish counter-fire.

Keith Park particularly admired the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps commander, Sir William Birdwood, whose leadership style and attention to detail was a model for Park in his later career.

Keith Park reported back on the ready manner in which the British guns could be detected.

Keith Park had been trying for some time to obtain a transfer but the senior officers in the 29th Division would not allow this for its personnel serving in France; in later years Park saw his wounding as being particularly fortuitous for his future military career.

Keith Park, having accumulated over 20 hours solo and 30 hours flying, had qualified for his wings and was posted to Rendcomb for instructing duties in March 1917.

Keith Park has performed several other fine feats, and has at all times set a most inspiring example by his dash and tenacity.

Keith Park was able to send one Albatros out of control although his observer's gun jammed.

Keith Park eventually evaded the pursuing fighters, although his engine was damaged by machine-gun fire and he force landed behind British lines.

Keith Park was well respected by his men, though he tended to avoid close relationships with those under his command.

Just after the war, on 25 November 1918, Keith Park married Dorothy "Dol" Parish at Christ Church in Lancaster Gate.

Keith Park had applied for a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force earlier in the year, but heard nothing despite his application having the support of his wing commander.

Keith Park went to London Colney to command the training depot there and went on a course at the No 2 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping.

Keith Park was deemed to be unfit for further service, notwithstanding the record flight he had just made.

Keith Park took leave for rest and two months later sought a re-examination.

Keith Park was granted his permanent commission in September, with effect from 1 August 1919, with the rank of flight lieutenant.

Keith Park was appointed commander of a store of Handley Page aircraft at Hawkinge.

In March 1923, Keith Park's health was sufficiently restored that he was returned to flight status and two months later he was posted to Egypt on technical duties.

Keith Park became well respected by his commander, Oliver Swann, who advocated for him in 1925 when concerns were raised regarding Park's health.

Keith Park was to serve on the staff of the commander of the ADGB, Air Marshal Sir John Salmond, with responsibility for "Operations, Intelligence Mobilization and Combined Training".

The ADGB, based at Uxbridge, was a RAF command tasked with the air defence of the United Kingdom, and Keith Park was given considerable latitude in developing his role.

Keith Park was involved in an incident on 7 February 1928, when he crashed a Siskin while landing at night.

Keith Park was promoted to wing commander on 1 January 1929 and posted back to Uxbridge on staff duties two months later.

In January 1931, Keith Park was given command of the RAF station at Northolt, his tenure lasting 18 months.

Keith Park then became chief instructor at the Oxford University Air Squadron.

Keith Park was responsible for 75 students, among them Archibald Hope, who later commanded No 601 Squadron.

Many of the students at OUAS, encouraged by Keith Park, would go on to join the RAF.

Keith Park was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by Oxford University in recognition of his services.

In November 1934, Keith Park was dispatched to Buenos Aires to serve as the Air Attache for South America.

Keith Park had been given notice of his appointment some months before, affording him time to learn Spanish.

Keith Park was accompanied by his wife but their two children remained in England, attending boarding schools.

Keith Park travelled throughout the continent, visiting aircraft factories and air bases, and promoting British aircraft, military and civilian.

Keith Park was appointed Air Aide-de-Camp to King George VI in early 1937.

Keith Park became known for being a questioning student, and demanding of guest lecturers.

Keith Park was now based at Bentley Priory, second-in-command to Dowding.

Keith Park was against the use of the conventional "Vic" formation used by the RAF, in which three fighter aircraft flew in a V-formation, on the basis that these were not suited for monoplanes and wanted to explore alternatives.

On 20 April 1940 Keith Park took over from Air Vice Marshal William Welsh as commander of No 11 Group, responsible for the fighter defence of London and southeast England.

Keith Park had greater experience with fighters, and most of Leigh-Mallory's career, aside from the three years that he had spent in charge of No 12 Group, was in training roles.

At the time Keith Park took command of No 11 Group, it was perceived that Leigh-Mallory's No 12 Group would bear the brunt of the German bombing campaign since this area of the British Isles was the closest to Germany.

Keith Park advocated for the usage of at least two squadrons at a time in stronger patrols rather than the continuous coverage.

Keith Park's approach was put into effect the next day, sometimes using as many as four squadrons, with greater intervals between patrols.

Keith Park was very recognisable, wearing white overalls when flying.

Keith Park maintained a desire to switch to the offensive; just two weeks after Dunkirk, he sought to have some Hurricane squadrons refitted as fighter-bombers and used, along with Bristol Blenheims, to make nighttime attack on the German airfields in France.

Keith Park was able to draw upon the neighbouring groups for reinforcements as required.

Keith Park directed that the fighter squadrons under his control be scrambled against incoming German bombers with the aim of attacking them before they reached their targets, and that engaging fighter escorts should be avoided.

Keith Park needed to ensure that there were as many as possible in the air to counter the German bombers and to avoid having too many on the ground being refuelled and rearmed.

Keith Park usually had only around 20 minutes from when radar detected the buildup of the incoming bombers over the Pas de Calais or Cotentin regions to scramble his squadrons and have them at a suitable height for interception.

Keith Park kept in regular contact with his squadrons, often flying his Hurricane to the airfields and addressing those under his command.

Keith Park's visit coincided with the Luftwaffe's greatest daytime raid on England.

Keith Park put up all his aircraft, leaving no reserve, and they were joined by 60 fighters from No 12 Group.

The Germans believed that Fighter Command was largely exhausted but the change in tactics was welcomed as both Keith Park and Dowding recognised that it would be a relief for their pilots.

At one stage the previous month, pilots and fighters were being lost at a greater rate than they could be replaced and Keith Park had to close Biggin Hill, which had been rendered nonoperational due to bomb damage.

Keith Park changed his own tactics, using his squadrons to intercept the German bombers and fighters making their way back to France after bombing London.

Keith Park endeavoured to keep his pilots fresh and rested, arranging for improved facilities and billets away from areas being bombed.

Keith Park eventually resorted to directing his requests for cover by No 12 Group through Fighter Command Headquarters for greater responsiveness.

Keith Park was not opposed to the use of squadrons en masse and had used comparable tactics while defending the evacuation of the beaches at Dunkirk a few months previously.

Keith Park recognised that the short time between the detection of the approaching German bombers and them reaching their targets in southeast England meant that Big Wings were not practical.

Keith Park continued to raise complaints about the use of Big Wings but Douglas saw this as being a personal objection to No 12 Group operating in his sector.

Keith Park believed his relief was due to the dispute with Leigh-Mallory.

Historian John Ray, in his account of Dowding's handling of the Battle of Britain, argues that Keith Park was seen at the Air Ministry as being closely aligned with Dowding, implementing the latter's defensive scheme.

On learning of Keith Park's impending departure, Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul, who led No 13 Group, wrote to Keith Park and noted "the magnificent achievements of your group in the past six months; they have borne the brunt of the war, and undoubtedly saved England".

Keith Park himself felt that Saul should have taken over No 11 Group instead of Leigh-Mallory, on the basis that the former was much more familiar with the RAF stations in the area.

Wing Commander Victor Beamish, in charge of North Weald station, wrote to Keith Park, advising that the regret at his departure crossed all ranks.

Subsequent appraisals of Keith Park by German military intelligence were that he was a "man of action", and was known as the "Defender of London".

Churchill was angered at the treatment of Keith Park, and Dowding, by the Air Ministry's publication in March 1941 of a pamphlet on the Battle of Britain, in which neither officer was mentioned.

Keith Park's command, centered on RAF South Cerney, encompassed seven service flying training schools, the Central Flying School at Upavon, and the School of Air Navigation at St Athan.

Keith Park improved operational efficiencies, introduced new equipment, and modernised airfields.

Keith Park was able to improve the efficiency and coordination of Egypt's defences and deal better with incoming bombing raids.

On 8 July 1942, Keith Park relinquished command in Egypt and six days later went to Malta to replace Hugh Lloyd, the RAF commander on the island, which was under siege by the Axis powers.

Lloyd met Keith Park and admonished him for taking unnecessary risks in landing.

Keith Park abandoned the defensive approach taken by Lloyd, in which the island's fighters took off, circled behind the approaching bombers of the Axis forces and engaged them over Malta.

Keith Park, having plenty of Spitfires on hand, sought to intercept and break up the German and Italian bomber formations before they reached Malta.

Keith Park retaliated by ordering his fighters to climb no higher than 6,100 feet.

Keith Park dispatched Hurricane fighter bombers, fitted with extra fuel tanks, to attack Axis supply lines as far away as Egypt.

Keith Park's work was praised by the American Lieutenant General Dwight Eisenhower and British Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery, appreciative of the RAF's operations from Malta in support of their ground forces in North Africa.

Portal, still the CAS, thought that Keith Park could become head of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force, replacing another New Zealander, Arthur Coningham.

Keith Park was then slated to go to India as the air officer in charge of administration, but when the proposed appointment went to Churchill for approval, he preferred Keith Park remain where he was for the time being.

In January 1944, Keith Park was promoted to air marshal and appointed air officer commander-in-chief of RAF Middle East Command, taking the role over from Sholto Douglas on Tedder's recommendation.

Portal and Tedder maintained their confidence in Keith Park, as did Churchill.

Keith Park was responsible for the training of RAF personnel in Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine and South Africa.

Partway through the year, Keith Park was considered by the Australian government for command of the Royal Australian Air Force, because of the rivalry between its de jure head, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal George Jones, and Jones's nominal subordinate, Air Vice Marshal William Bostock, in charge of RAAF operations in the Pacific.

Portal deemed Keith Park better suited to the role, given his operational experience.

Once in his new command, one of Keith Park's tasks was ensuring the aerial provision of General William Slim's 14th Army, which was advancing through Burma to Rangoon.

One of Keith Park's concerns was the British Army's lack of urgency in repairing airfields captured by the 14th Army as it moved towards Rangoon.

Keith Park maintained his longstanding practice of visiting the RAF stations of his command, despite its wide range, which extended from Kandy, where he was initially based until shifting to Singapore, northwest to Quetta, south to the Cocos Islands and Hong Kong to the northeast.

Keith Park sought to shorten the term of service to three years for single men, and this came into effect in April 1946.

In late November 1945, Keith Park's headquarters transferred to Singapore, which in the postwar period was to be developed as an air base.

Morale, due to the rate of repatriation of RAF personnel, continued to be a problem in the early part of the following year, and Keith Park had to speak to several groups of dissatisfied men.

Keith Park was engaged writing formal dispatches regarding operations carried out by SEAC.

Keith Park toned down his writings in response to feedback from the War Office.

In February 1946, Keith Park, looking ahead to his impending replacement as ACSEAC by his deputy, Air Marshal Guy Pirie, in late April, sought permission for leave in New Zealand before taking up his next post.

Keith Park had been asked by the Air Ministry to meet with representatives of the RNZAF to discuss its postwar plans and needs.

Keith Park reported back that there was an intention to align with the RAF on equipment and processes.

Keith Park was not entitled to the pension that came with this rank.

Keith Park was recognised by the United States for his work during the Second World War, being appointed a Commander of the Legion of Merit in 1947.

Almost immediately after his retirement, Keith Park became a representative of the Hawker Siddeley Group, which manufactured military and civilian aircraft.

Keith Park was tasked with selling aviation equipment to countries in South America, aided by his previous experience in the region.

Keith Park met the president of Argentina, Juan Peron, in early 1947, and a contract was signed later in the year for 380 Gloster Meteor jet fighters and 30 Avro Lincoln heavy bombers.

Keith Park was largely frustrated in his efforts to sell his employer's aircraft in New Zealand as there was a preference for those made by American manufacturers.

Keith Park was occasionally critical of the purchasing decisions of the New Zealand government, which embarrassed Hawker Siddeley.

Keith Park was involved in the establishment of Auckland International Airport at Mangere.

Keith Park had already highlighted the importance of such a facility to the Auckland business community.

Keith Park had received feedback from Sholto Douglas, now a director of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, that New Zealand's airfields were particularly poor.

In 1951, Keith Park was named chairman of the International Airport Committee and for the next few years worked towards obtaining the necessary land and cooperation from both central and local government.

Ian's death was upsetting for both parents, but Keith Park was better able to move on with life while his wife struggled to come to terms with the loss of her son.

The donated Spitfire, a Mk XVI, which had been used in the filming of Reach for the Sky, arrived at the museum the following year and Keith Park gave an address at its formal unveiling.

Keith Park was elected for a three-year term in the 1962 local elections, and went on to be reelected for two more terms.

The airport began international operations in 1966 and, for a time, acquaintances of Keith Park moved to have it named after him; the government declined to do so.

On viewing the finished film at its premiere in New Zealand, Keith Park found it entertaining but noted the meeting in which he and Leigh-Mallory argued over the use of Big Wings was fictionalised and less dramatic than what had actually occurred.

Keith Park took ill in Auckland on 2 February 1975 and was admitted to hospital, where he died on 6 February, aged 82.

Keith Park was accorded a military funeral, the service being held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell.

Keith Park's remains were cremated and, at the request of his surviving son, his ashes scattered over Waitemata Harbour from an aircraft.

Keith Park's name is carved into that history alongside those of his peers.

In New Zealand, Park is commemorated by the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield in Thames and at the aviation section of the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, the gate guardian of which is a replica of the Hurricane which Park flew while commanding No 11 Group.

In 2019, a bronze statue of Keith Park was unveiled outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre.

The statue was funded by a $200,000 bequest from Betty Hare, who felt that Keith Park deserved greater recognition in his homeland.

Thanks to the advocacy of financier Terry Smith, on 4 November 2009 a temporary 5-metre tall fibreglass statue of Keith Park was unveiled on the Fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

Keith Park was a man who never failed at any task he was given.