SIR KEITH PARK

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24899, 12 June 1946, Page 5

SIR KEITH PARK

EXPERIENCES IN BATTLE OF BRITAIN CIVIC RECEPTION IN CHRISTCHURCH The result of the Battle of Britain in 1940 had greatly undermined the morale of German pilots, and had contributed in no small measure to the successful outcome of the war, said Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, when he arid Lady Park were given a civic reception at the City Council chambers last evening. After expressing his appreciation of the welcome that he had received, Sir Keith Park related some personal experiences during the Battle of Britain, when he commanded the No. 11 Fighter Group, which included the fighter and anti-aircraft defences for the whole of the south of England, including London.

“Veteran crews of the German air force never recovered from «the defeats they suffered over England,” he said. “I noticed that when many German aircraft were setting out to blitz factory areas in England they dropped their bombs in country aress. rather than face our fighter defences.” Sir Keith Park said that during the Battle of Britain the Germans had lost between 5000 and 6000 of their best airmen—pilots, navigators, and gunners—while the Royal Air Force had lost only 375 pilots. While he experienced sorrow when London was first bombed, he had also been overjoyed, he said. He realised that the German pilots would report that they had left the London docks in flames and consequently the Luftwaffe would concentrate its attacks on London. That would give breathing space in which to repair landing fields which had been badly damaged by enemy bombing. He borrowed a great amount of labour from the Army, and within a very short time he had his airfields in good order. If they had not been repaired the outlook for Great Britain would have been extremely bad. Praise for the women’s services in the south of Engl?-nd was expressed by Sir Keith Park, who mentioned several incidents in which members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force had acted with exemplary courage. He also expressed appreciation of the conduct of women in London, who had remained at their jobs during the height of the blitz. “Without the efforts of the factory workers and other civilians who beheved so courageously, we in the fighting services could not have put up the show that we did,” he said.

Although he had been away from the Dominion for about 32 years, he had never forgotten his native country. said Sir Keith Park. He had corresponded with his parents end fafnily, and had also met hundreds of New Zealanders in all walks of life overseas. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), who officially welcomed both Sir Keith Park and Lady Park to Christchurch, said thst New Zealand was always happy to see the return of one of her sons who had made a name for himself overseas. Citizens had read with pride about the achievements of Sir Keith Park in many theatres of war. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr M. E. Lyons) and Air Marshal Sir Robert Clark-Hall also spoke.