BRILLIANT TACTICS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 243, 15 October 1942, Page 5

BRILLIANT TACTICS

N.Z. OFFICER DIRECTING J0B K. R. PARK, MAN OF THE MOMENT.

P.A. Special.

LONDON, Oct. 14.

"The man of the rnoment" and "The man behind the Malta victories" are descriptions given by London newspapers to Air Vice-Marshal Keith Rodney Park, of Dunedin, in commenting and reporting on the heavy losses sustained by the Germans over Malta in the past week — 106 lost or limping in 48 hours. Thus The Star: "The man immediately taehind Malta's latest successes is Air Vice-Marshgl Park, who, during the Battle of Britain played a big part in helping to save this country. In Malta's defence he has once again, by the brilliant direction of his pilots, put into operation exactly the same tactics he used during the heavy daylight raids when as Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group his - squadrons bore the brunt on the south and southeast coast. "Vice-Marshal Park's plan of defence is early interception. He decided when Malta was supplied with Spitfires that he would get the enemy bombers while they were still at sea although they had only 70 miles to come. It was obviously a sound theory, but the man who puts

it into practice needs to be a genius in organisation. The efficiency of the defensive organisation under Vice-Marshal Park must be perfect and the timing of the Spitfires in the air almost miraculous." The Air Ministry Middle East News Service describes a "classic" interception when Spitfires dived on the enemy some 30 miles out to sea, shooting down over half. Not one was allowed to get anywhere near Malta. The Malta "massacre" has thrilled all Britain.

BAG OF 57 IN THREE DAYS. Sunday and Monday proved even greater days for Malta's defenders and even more disastrous for Axis aircraft than was originally reported. During the period 19 bombers and 20 fighters were destroyed. Many more were damaged at a cost of six British fighters, with two of their pilots safe. There was practically no damage to military objectives. Enemy bombers and fighters by the hundred came on all day to-day in attempts to make attacks on Malta, but only a small percentage reached the island, and they did no great damage. Spitfires broke up attack after attack and took a mounting toll of the Luftwaffe. In three days ended last night 57 enemy machines had been definitely destroyed, while dozens more had been severely damaged. We had lost only seven fighters. A further outstanding success was seored by Malta's defenders yesterday, when up to 3 .30 p.m. our fighters had shot down 17 enemy aircraft and damaged many others for the loss of one Spitfire. A Cairo communique, recording this, adds that an additional enemy bomber was shot down at Malta on the preceding night, while two more were destroyed in the battle area in Egypt and another over Sicily. We lost only three aircraft in all these operations, including Malta, where all attacks were broken up foefore damage could be inflicted.