Keith Park

In the RFC, Park first learned to instruct and then learned to fly. After a spell as an instructor (March 1917 to the end of June), he was posted to France and managed a posting to join 48 Squadron,[3] at La Bellevue (near Arras), on 7 July 1917. Within a week, the squadron moved to Frontier Aerodrome just east of Dunkirk. Park flew the new Bristol Fighter (a two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft) and soon achieved successes against German fighters, earning, on 17 August, the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", after shooting down an enemy aircraft and causing the destruction of three others[5] with Arthur Noss as his gunner.[6] He was promoted to temporary captain on 11 September.

After a break from flying, Park returned to France as a major to command 48 Squadron,[3] where he showed his ability as a tough but fair commander by demonstrating 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,[7][8] the Distinguished Flying Cross[9] and the French Croix de Guerre. His final tally of aircraft claims was five destroyed and 14 (and one shared) "out of control". (His 13th "credit" of 5 September 1917 was Lieutenant Franz Pernet of Jasta Boelcke (a stepson of General Erich Ludendorff)). Park was also shot down twice during this period.

After the Armistice, he married the London socialite Dorothy "Dol" Parish.

After the war, Park was awarded a permanent commission as a captain in the Royal Air Force and when the new RAF officer ranks were introduced in 1919, Park became a flight lieutenant.[3] He served as a flight commander on No. 25 Squadron from 1919 to 1920 before taking up duties as a squadron commander at the School of Technical Training.[3] In 1922 he was selected to attend the newly formed RAF Staff College.[3] Later on, Park commanded RAF stations and was an instructor before promotion to Air Commodore and an appointment as Senior Air Staff Officer at Fighter Command under Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding in 1938.[3] In 1937 he attended the Imperial Defence College.[10]

Promoted to the rank of air vice marshal,[11] Park took command of No. 11 Group RAF, responsible for the fighter defence of London and southeast England, in April 1940.[3] 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. Flying his personalised Hawker Hurricane around his fighter airfields during the battle, Park gained a reputation as a shrewd tactician with an astute grasp of strategic issues and as a popular "hands-on" commander. However, he became embroiled in an acrimonious dispute with ambitious Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, commander of 12 Group. Leigh-Mallory, already envious of Park for leading the key 11 Group while No. 12 Group was left to defend airfields, repeatedly failed to support No. 11 Group. Leigh-Mallory and his Big Wing (led by Douglas Bader) often ran amok through No. 11 Group airspace confusing the UK's defences.

By September 1940, there was some concern in the Air Ministry and government circles that a switch by Germany to a primarily night offensive might cause heavy casualties and serious damage. Although Park had been constrained by scarce resources, it was concluded that more aggressive tactics might have achieved victory in day battles (rather than simply avoiding defeat). It was also concluded that Dowding was mishandling the night battles. As a result, Dowding was replaced on 25 November and Park on 18 December 1940. Dowding and Park's successors later began to attack across the English Channel, using tactics Park had rejected during the Battle of Britain. Their subsequent failure led an overwhelming majority of airmen, as well as later historians, to argue that Dowding’s strategy and Park’s tactics had been correct.[12][13]

Park's subsequent objection to Leigh-Mallory's behaviour during the Big Wing controversy may have contributed to his and Dowding's removal from command at the end of the battle, but neither Park nor Dowding had much time for internal politics and fell easy prey to their waiting critics. Richard Saul of 13 Group on the other hand, wrote to Park on learning of his pending departure from No. 11 Group, commenting on "the magnificent achievements of your group in the past six months; they have borne the brunt of the war, and undoubtedly saved England".[14] Park remained indignant, however, over his and Dowding's treatment for the rest of his life. Park was posted immediately to Training Command, becoming AOC No. 23 Group RAF,[15] before seeing later high ranking service in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, while Dowding was sent to America.

Park's No. 11 Group RAF was coordinated by fighter controllers in the No. 11 Group Operations Room in the underground bunker, now known as the Battle of Britain Bunker at RAF Uxbridge. Park himself was not based in the bunker but did visit to impart his wisdom at numerous key points during the battle, along with visits from the Royal Family and Winston Churchill. Among the many air battles fought over Britain, Park personally commanded RAF forces on several important dates: 13 August (Adlertag), 18 August (The Hardest Day) and the 15 September (Battle of Britain Day).

While overseeing the operations at RAF Uxbridge, Air Vice-Marshal Park stayed in a house opposite the entrance to the bunker. He used a small door to get from the house each day to the bunker. In 1996, the house, named Park House after the war in his honour, was demolished. Only the door and garden wall were retained.[16]

Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, KCB, KBE, MC, DFC (1945) by Bernard Hailstone (Art.IWM ART LD 5921)

In January 1942 Park went to Egypt as Air Officer Commanding,[3] where he built up the air defence of the Nile Delta. In July 1942, following growing concern over the German and Italian attacks on Malta, he returned to action, commanding the vital air defence of the island.[3] From there his squadrons participated in the North African and Sicilian campaigns. In January 1944 he was made Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Middle East Command.[3]

In June 1944, Park was considered by the Australian government to command the RAAF, because of rivalry between the nominal head, Chief of the Air Staff Air Vice Marshal George Jones and his deputy the operational head, Air Vice Marshal William Bostock, but General Douglas MacArthur said it was too late in the war to change. In February 1945 Park was appointed Allied Air Commander, South-East Asia, where he served until the end of the war.[3] Park was made a Commander of the American Legion of Merit in 1947.[17] On leaving the Royal Air Force, Park personally selected a Supermarine Spitfire to be donated to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, New Zealand. This aircraft is still on display today along with his service decorations and uniform.