Product Description

If ever any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I don't believe it is realized how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgement and his skill, did to save not only this country, but the world. So wrote Marshal of the RAF Lord Tedder in 1947. As commander of No. 11 Group, Fighter Command and responsible for the air defence of London and South-East England, Keith Park took charge of the day-to-day direction of the battle. In spotlighting his thoughts and actions during the crisis, the author reveals a man whose unfailing energy, courage and cool resourcefulness won not only supreme praise from Churchill but the lasting respect and admiration of all who served under him. However, few officers in any of the services packed more action into their lives, and this book covers the whole of his career - youth in New Zealand, success as an ace fighter pilot in World War I, postings to South America and Egypt, Battle of Britain, Command of the RAF in Malta 1942/43, and finally Allied Air Commander-in-Chief of South East Asia under Mountbatten in 1945. His contribution to victory and peace was immense and this biography aims to shed light on the Big Wing controversy of 1940 and give insight into the war in Burma, 1945, and how the huge problems remaining after the war's sudden end were dealt with. Drawn largely from unpublished sources and interviews with people who knew Park, and illustrated with maps and photographs, this is an authoritative biography of one of the world's greatest unsung heroes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53374 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
Thoroughly researched, generously rich in references ... Park emereges as a man who never failed at any task given him, yet whose career has attracted almost no coverage. Professor Orange brings him out of the shadows and the result is most strongly recommended --Pennant Magazine

Grab anything by Vincent Orange for he chooses interesting subjects and writes about them superbly. His characteristic clarity of thought and expression and sense of occasion are evident in this study of Sir Keith Park. --Air Mail

Customer Reviews

A magnificent tribute
This story of Keith Park's life is a truly remarkable journey through the 1930s to his death in the 1970s. His unfailing steadfastness, professionalism and expertise halted the Nazi rampage over Western Europe. His ability to "get it right first time" was uncanny, his sector felt the brunt of the German air assault in 1940 and together with Dowding he gave the Nazi war machine its first undeniable defeat. The book is extremely well written and the author seems to have gotten access to all the necessary facts to keep the reader keenly interested.

One shudders to think what would have happened had Park not been in charge of 11 Group this book explains clearly just how vital his sector was and how he managed his squadrons and personnel, he was clearly light years ahead of his contemporaries. The book also illustrates Parks further career and the politics that surrounded it. Other nations would have re-named their country after him had he done for them what he did for Great Britain in those dark dangerous days in the summer of 1940. If you want to know about how the Battle of Britain was fought and won this book will give you most of what you need.

The man who saved Britain
If Keith Park had been an American a movie would have been made about him.

The British treated him as a Colonial. He was not one of the old school. His success created enormous jealousy amongst those that were. One example is Leigh-Mallory who did everything he could to undermine Park. His pedantic behaviour and lack of cooperation with Park during the battle of Britain could have resulted in the loss of the Battle. Britain should should count itself fortunate that a man of Parks skill and mana was the commander of Group 11 at that most important time in history.

The Best but Forgotten WW2 leader
Well produced book but did not tell the reader all of the back stabbing that this man endured from the Air Ministry Leaders.