“THE MAN OF THE MOMENT"

Evening Star, Issue 24327, 16 October 1942, Page 4

“THE MAN OF THE MOMENT "

AIR VICE-Bfif RSHAL PARK’S ACHJEVEiMENTS THRILL FAMILY “ Oh. that’s rattling good news; that’s .splendid,” was tne first comment made by Professor Park when he read in last night's ‘ Star ’ what the London Press had to say of Ids sun, Air ViceMarshal Keith Rodney Park, since the latest Malta victories over attacking Axis aircraft. Professor Park’s eyes shone with a justifiable pride as lie made the remark in the presence of a representative of this paper. Mrs Park. too. was just as proud. “ It’s very good,” she said with feeling. “ All the boys have done well, but Keith seems outstanding. Only recently wo had a cable from him. in which he advised ns to ‘ keep smiling.’ News like this will certainly help us to keep smiling.” Dunedin as a whole may well share the pride of this now elderly couple, for Air Vice-Marshal Park is one of the city’s sons. True, he has not been

near New Zealand since he went away as a gunner with the Second Contingent of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and he may in outlook have become more an Englishman than a New Zealander, but there remains a link that cannot be broken. In the informal chat that followed the professor’s first reaction to the news many remarkable and interesting disclosures were made which_ stressed the indomitable fighting spirit of Air Vice-Marshal Park. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 on sudden impulse. When on leave after being wounded he jumped at the opportunity of a trial flight, and on that flight, to quote the professor, “ he knew he had found his forte.” He pulled every string he could, and succeeded in transferring from the Army to the R.F.C. Then began the record that has to-day earned him the great distinction of being called “ The man of the moment.” In 10 months he was commanding a squadron, and he came through the war a recognised “ ace

with 119 Herman machines to his credit. War again in 1989, and this fighting man was fighting again. He directed his group’s air operations over Dunkirk, and when that epic ended, in his own Hurricane he How over Dunkirk to have a final look round. Another distinction —“ the last man to leave Dunkirk.” THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN, Then Hitler made Ids abortive attempt to crush Britain by massed air attack. Air Vice-Marshal Park, who had under him at one stage the Duke of Kent, directed operations against the raiding Luftwaffe. There came that great day—September 15, 19-10—when the “ so few ” brought down 185 enemy planes Air Winston Churchill sat in the control room that day watching the tally mount, so intensely engrossed that he forgot to light his cigar. After it was all over England’s Prime Minister congratulated Dunedin’s son. And the reply was typical of the fighter: “ ißather disappointed myself. I had hoped the tally would reach 200.” Of this period an extract from 1 Aten of the 11.A.E..’ by Sir William llothenstein and-Lord David Cecil is interesting: “ Air Viee-Marslial Park, tall, elegant, with penetrating bine eyes and clear-cut features, his face sensitively

lined, had played a leading part in providing air protection during the evacuation from Dunkirk, making several Hurricane flights over the area under heavy anti-aircraft fire, and remaining in Dunkirk until the last two ships got away with their cargo of men. It was Park who, as A.O.C. of the famous 11 Group of Fighter Command, directed the operations in the Battle of Britain. His group boro the heaviest part of the fighting between September 11 and October 5, accounting for 442 aircraft. . .” Later he went to Egypt, from where, in a letter to his father, he wrote that it was all pretty tame after the Battle of Britain. His appointment to Malta was much more in his line. Fie welcomed it, and wrote to his parents of the joy the appointment brought. He wrote also; “ I shall do my best to bring them down by land and sea.” He has succeeded. He is “ the man of the moment.” And who will deny the right of his parents to be proud?