PERMANENT BRONZE STATUE OF AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR KEITH PARK TO BE UNVEILED IN WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON SW1 ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2010, BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY 15.00hrs BST

• Installation in Waterloo Place at a formal commemoration ceremony
• Unveiling taking place on Battle of Britain Day in the 70^th anniversary year of Battle of Britain
• This will be the only major London public event due to take place on Battle of Britain Day
• Statue commissioned by the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign and designed by Les Johnson

A permanent bronze statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, who commanded 11 Group Fighter Command which defended London and the South East of England throughout the Battle of Britain, will be unveiled in the 70^th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 2010, Battle of Britain Day, at a formal ceremony in Waterloo Place, London, SW1. 

The unveiling will be attended by some 1000 invited guests, including Battle of Britain veterans and members of Sir Keith Park’s family.  Also in attendance will be representatives of the Commonwealth and other countries whose airmen flew alongside The Royal Air Force during the Battle, as well as supporters of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign. 

The unveiling marks the culmination of a two year campaign, which also saw the temporary installation (November 2009 to May 2010) of a 5 metre high statue of Sir Keith on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. This statue is now on permanent display in the Battle of Britain Hall at the RAF Museum in Hendon. 

Sir Keith Park commanded 11 Group Fighter Command, which was responsible for the defence of London and the South East of England. He therefore commanded the squadrons which bore the brunt of the fighting in the Battle of Britain. The failure to defeat the RAF in 1940 is seen as Germany’s first major setback in the Second World War – forcing the abandonment of the planned invasion of Britain. 

Park was a New Zealander, who had fought in the First World War in the field artillery first at Gallipoli, and then the Somme where he was wounded and evacuated to England. Medically graded unfit to continue service with the artillery, Park joined the Royal Flying Corps, remaining with the air arm when it was re-formed as the Royal Air Force. 

Marshal of the RAF, Lord Tedder, said of Park: “If ever any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I don’t believe it is recognised how much this one man, with his leadership, his calm judgement and his skill, did to save not only this country, but the world.” 

Terry Smith, Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, said: 

“This permanent bronze statue is a fitting memorial to Sir Keith, situated as it is in the heart of the capital city that he did so much to defend in 1940. It is all the more fitting that the statue is in view of New Zealand House as Sir Keith was a New Zealander. Sir Keith was neglected in his own lifetime, so it will give me great pleasure to see him receive the public recognition that is long over due, especially as the statue will be unveiled on Battle of Britain day in this the 70^th anniversary of the Battle. 

A permanent bronze statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, who commanded 11 Group Fighter Command which defended London and the South East of England throughout the Battle of Britain, will be unveiled in the 70^th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 2010, Battle of Britain Day, at a formal ceremony in Waterloo Place, London, SW1.

 

The unveiling will be attended by some 1000 invited guests, including Battle of Britain veterans and members of Sir Keith Park’s family.  Also in attendance will be representatives of the Commonwealth and other countries whose airmen flew alongside The Royal Air Force during the Battle, as well as supporters of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign.

 

The unveiling marks the culmination of a two year campaign, which also saw the temporary installation (November 2009 to May 2010) of a 5 metre high statue of Sir Keith on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. This statue is now on permanent display in the Battle of Britain Hall at the RAF Museum in Hendon. 

 

Sir Keith Park commanded 11 Group Fighter Command, which was responsible for the defence of London and the South East of England. He therefore commanded the squadrons which bore the brunt of the fighting in the Battle of Britain. The failure to defeat the RAF in 1940 is seen as Germany’s first major setback in the Second World War – forcing the abandonment of the planned invasion of Britain.

 

Park was a New Zealander, who had fought in the First World War in the field artillery first at Gallipoli, and then the Somme where he was wounded and evacuated to England. Medically graded unfit to continue service with the artillery, Park joined the Royal Flying Corps, remaining with the air arm when it was re-formed as the Royal Air Force.

 

Marshal of the RAF, Lord Tedder, said of Park: “If ever any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I don’t believe it is recognised how much this one man, with his leadership, his calm judgement and his skill, did to save not only this country, but the world.”

 

Terry Smith, Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, said: 

“This permanent bronze statue is a fitting memorial to Sir Keith, situated as it is in the heart of the capital city that he did so much to defend in 1940. It is all the more fitting that the statue is in view of New Zealand House as Sir Keith was a New Zealander. Sir Keith was neglected in his own lifetime, so it will give me great pleasure to see him receive the public recognition that is long over due, especially as the statue will be unveiled on Battle of Britain day in this the 70^th anniversary of the Battle.

Source: sirkeithpark.com