Air Chief Marshal Keith Park: One Of The Few!

[@erikwade3668]

Outstanding work, Mr. Sarkar! I still have my paperback of of Marcel Julian's "The Battle Of Britain" from Fawcett Crest Publications that my father gave me for my seventh birthday right after we caught the premiere of the movie at the Fox Theater in San Diego. The price on the cover reads "95 Cents". A local model club had set up a display of most every aircraft type that participated in the battle and the events, people, and machines involved have always been a source of fascination and inspiration. I have one 1/48th Hurricane Mk.I in his OK 1 markings and I recently obtained a new Mk.IIc for his OK 2. As a yank, it never really occured to me that Sir Keith Park wouldn't have been included among "The Few" given that he commanded No. 11 Group, but I'm thrilled to know that he will be so from now on.

[@roo8300]

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder summed up Park’s achievements in the quote - “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”.

[@tedheath9018]

Thank you for the kind words about our hero Keith Park.

[@MySlatts]

Sir Keith Park born 1892, Thames New Zealand.

[@neilharrison1420]

great watch,love your channel,hats of to you .

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

Thanks very much!

[@seanyoung8085]

Fantastic to see Sir Keith get the recognition he deserves.

[@simonmills6344]

Trevor Howard's a good likeness to, Keith Park

[@brunel23]

I remember from the BoB movie, there is a scene where AVM Keith Park lands and taxis in a Hurricane. I've always wondered what the context was and now I know. Its not BoB related, but I believe US Lt Gen Jimmy Doolittle took to the skies on June 6th in a P-38 Lightning, and overflew the D-Day beaches. Looking forward to more content.

[@BigAmp]

Outstanding men the pair of them - leading from the front.

[@samrodian919]

Well done on your efforts to get Sir Keith recognised as a genuine member of " the Few" Dilip. I'd love to know your views on the characters surrounding the disgusting sacking of both Sir Hugh Dowding and Sir Keith Park from their respective positions of the head of fighter command and the head of fighter command 11 group. Personally I think Sholto Douglas, Trafford Leigh-Mallory and lower ranking officers like Douglas Bader( who himself was a shameless self promoter) all conspired to in modern parlance do the dirty about both Dowding and Park to whoever would listen, especially those on the Air Council, like Sir Charles Portal and others and to the Minister For Air Archibald Sinclair. And even to Churchill himself if the opportunity arose. And of course Dowding himself fell foul of Churchill by refusing to send more fighters to aid the Battle of France. Churchill to my mind had a blind spot where France was concerned, probably harking back to his time in the trenches after the Dardanelles debacle. Anyway could you point me in the direction of your findings in this matter? I'd love to know the real story from you Dilip.

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

@@samrodian919 Thanks. The Big Wing Controversy remains a stain on the service’s history, something I coveted in great detail in this recent book, and have re visited in Volume 7 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust’s official history, The Final Curtain, being published next year with a foreword by the current Lord Dowding. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Baders-Big-Wing-Controversy-Hardback/p/20171

[@kenstanway7625]

Huge respect for your work, Dilip and, of course, for the legendary Sir Keith Park who proved his absolute mastery of air defensive tactics over south east England and Malta. It's fitting that his right to wear the clasp is now officially recognised. It's also fitting you mention the work that both he and Dowding did pre-war in establishing Britain's integrated air defence system which bore Dowding's name. That Dowding was largely unappreciated at the time is, I think, clear. However, I would be interested in your view on whether he was actually sacked as AOC-in-C, Fighter Command. There is evidence that Chief of the Air Staff, Newall had written to Dowding several times, extending him in service, before finally confirming his final date. While Dowding was unhappy about it is clear; he engaged in some acerbic correspondence with both Newall and Secretary of State for Air, Sinclair. Nevertheless, he had been given due notice. It is thought that Churchill offered Dowding the job as head of the British mission in the USA as a sop because he may have harboured some guilt over Dowding's treatment by the Air Ministry. Interested to have your views and the involvement of Sinclair and the ambitious Sholto Douglas in the affair. Apologies if you feel my points are naive, but interested to have your views, nonetheless.

[@matthewashman1406]

Fantastic

[@fractalnomics]

Fantastic, nice work. I grew up in NZ with a dad who would talk war history. I think Charles Upham, VC and Bar, would, in my time, be 'the biggest war hero'. But Dad would mention Park in later years especially while watching The Battle of Britain movie. And today, you may well be right. Great pride.

[@marksurry3022]

I am sure he’s up there smiling in thanks to you!! Together with his chicks!!! You are a great guy!! Mark🕉🕉

[@stevekitt52]

From what i have read about Keith, he was the kind of man you would follow to the ends of the world, someone you knew would have your back.

[@MortonBartlett-yy3cn]

He was from the ends of the earth so he knew the way

[@David40S]

Delighted to see this true hero of both wars, properly recognised for his extraordinary contributions. I have always held him in high regard as one of the great commanders, and it is absolutely fitting that he be recognised as one of the ‘Few’. Well done sir, for ensuring that this be done.

[@stevegibb6421]

Without detracting in the least bit from Sir Keiths contribution during WW2, I would dispute that he is New Zealands greatest war hero. He is however certainly one of the greatest, along with Charles Upham, winner of two VCs

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

Indeed - but as I have said before on this thread, without intending any disrespect whatsoever to the double VC, they were individual actions - Park was the tactical architect of the victory that saved the western democracies, so his contribution was infinite. On that basis, it will always be Park for me.

[@matthewashman1406]

I think he is the greatest new Zealander. As far as importance of what he did

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

@@matthewashman1406 couldn’t agree more.

[@bevpook4842]

Brilliant work Dilip.

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

Much appreciated!

[@Richard-xv3gw]

My Uncle work for the firm that serviced his Car, Armstrong Siddley. He meet him sevral times, having moved his Car out of the workshop. He knew at the time he was someone Mimportant! He was upset years later not knowing at the time, how important!

[@BeachcomberNZ]

Did you get a chance to check out the full size replica of Park's Hurricane that is on display at the Sir Keith Park Memorial at the airfield in Thames, New Zealand? Plenty of pics of it online.

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

I didn’t get a chance to visit but am aware of it and have given it a mention in Battle of Britain Remembered’, which is the eighth and final volume of the official history I have recently written for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. I did see the OK1 replica at MOTAT but a pity the camouflage scheme and markings are wrong.

[@robmort67]

Than you for doing what you have done for one of our heroes. I too hold Sir Keith Park amongst the very few kiwis who made an immense contribution to the war effort However... I would place him just slightly behind Captain Charles Upham VC and bar. The only combat soldier to win 2 VC's in the 2nd world war. Read the book Searching for Charlie by Tom Scott, what Upham did was incredible

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

No disrespect to the double VC but those are individual actions - Keith Park was one of the two architects of the victory that saved the western democracies, so he will always be number one to me.

[@19bisho]

"The very few Kiwis who made an immense contribution to the war effort" Very few?? what!!! Per head of population NZ was way up there with the best of Allied forces, As for Sir Keith remember He fought in wars, Gallipoli and France WW1and Saved Britain and Malta WW2 . Even Charlie would agree Keith had it tougher...

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

@@19bisho I think what he means is in positions of d executive Allied high command - which KP most certainly was, and his contribution in winning the Battle of Britain immense - because without that victory there would have been no other battles. So, let’s not split hairs, we all know in what context the comment was made.

[@te_piriti9220]

@@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar Hi Dilip. I understand your perspective but growing up as a New Zealander born less than ten years after the war Upham and Freyberg were the people I learned about (among others). It was not until later in life that I learned about Park. The difference is that Upham and Freyberg were New Zealanders serving in the New Zealand armed forces thus we identified with them whereas Park served as a professional officer in the British armed forces so was regarded as one of them. It is only with the passing of time and the wisdom of hindsight that Parks achievements have given him the kind of recognition in his home land that he probably deserves. The Kiwi world view is not the same thing as the British world view so while Britons may regard him as the greatest New Zealander we New Zealanders do not necessarily hold the same view.

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

@@te_piriti9220 I understand that - but it is only now that the enormity of Park’s strategic and tactical contribution to freedom is being properly understood - which will, I am sure, ultimately permeate through to NZ. For example, RNZAF Air Attaché in London will be attending the unveiling of a portrait of Park in our wonderful RAF Club in Piccadilly, and next year, the Battle of Britain 85th anniversary, will also see NZ VIPs attending the unveiling of his name on the Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at the National Memorial to The Few; Stephen Park, the great man’s great nephew, has contributed the foreword to the sixth volume of my official history, so slowly but surely the profile is being raised and with it a more accurate appreciation of Park’s actual contribution.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

I was always amazed that Park was rarely mentioned, from my earliest days in the 60s to now. I always assumed he was just a bit player ? sad really.

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

No bit player but an architect of victory, during both the Battle of Britain and Malta; how he, and Dowding, were treated is a stain on the service's history.

[@haydengoodall6767]

There is also a primary school in Auckland named in his honour. Well he stands alongside Captn Charles Upham and Corporal Haami Manahi, plus Colonel MAlone who captured and held Chunuk Bair, Dardanelles peninsular, WW1. GEEZ I'm also forgetting General Bernard Freyberg and his command of the 2nd NZ Expeditionary force, also Great grandad Edward Gordon (Tut) Geddes 2NZEF, Nth Africa, Crete, Italy and most importantly survived to return to Napier. Summa Pete.

[@battleofbritain_DilipSarkar]

@@haydengoodall6767 yes, I have been there.