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| Name: | Keith Rodney Park | Country: | New Zealand | Rank: | Major | Service: | Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force | Squadrons: | 48 | Victories: | 20 | Born: | 15 June 1892 | Place of Birth: | Thames, near Auckland | Died: | 6 February 1975 | Place of Death: | Auckland |
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| | Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, DCL, was educated at Otago Boys High School and Oxford University. He joined the New Zealand Artillery and served in Egypt and Gallipoli. Commissioned in July 1915, he transferred to the Royal Artillery in September 1915. In October 1916, he was wounded in action while serving in France. Two months later, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. After flight training he became an instructor and accumulated 100 hours of flight time before joining 48 Squadron in July 1917. By the end of the year, this Bristol Fighter pilot scored sixteen victories and was shot down once by antiaircraft fire. On 3 January 1918, he was shot down again, this time by Kurt Ungewitter of Schusta 5. When the war ended, Park remained in the Royal Air Force, rising to the rank of Air Chief Marshal. During World War II, he was in command of the RAF during the evacuation from Dunkirk and later assumed command of Number 11 Fighter Group, defending London and southern England during the Battle of Britain. When he retired, he went home to New Zealand. Published in 1984, his biography by Vincent Orange is entitled "Park." | |
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