Statue of Battle of Britain commander unveiled

The statue, presented by the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign (SKPMC) and supported by London Mayor Boris Johnson, will be in place for six months on the square's fourth plinth prior to a permanent memorial statue of him being unveiled in nearby Waterloo Place next year on the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Yesterday's unveiling ceremony was attended by Terry Smith, Chairman of the Memorial Campaign, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, WWII RAF veterans and members of Sir Keith Park's family.

Also in attendance were supporters of the campaign to commemorate the wartime leader of the forces that bore the brunt of German attempts to break the RAF.

A Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a Typhoon, both from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, performed a flypast over the ceremony. The Typhoon is the modern equivalent of the wartime Spitfire in the role of air defence of the UK.

The ceremonial occasion was supported by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and its Fanfare Team and the Royal Air Force's Queen's Colour Squadron. A large screen in Trafalgar Square broadcasted video footage of Sir Keith Park and RAF films were played around the ceremony.

Sir Keith Park commanded 11 Group of Fighter Command which was responsible for the defence of London and the South East.

He therefore commanded the squadrons which saw the most intense activity during the Battle of Britain.

Terry Smith, Chairman of the SKPMC, said yesterday:

"It is an honour to have unveiled a statue of Sir Keith Park in Trafalgar Square today. Park was pivotal in organising the defence of our country and capital city during the Battle of Britain and was a key figure in ensuring the survival of our nation.

"A New Zealander, Park was one of many who came from Commonwealth nations and other countries to our aid at one of Britain's most bleak times in history.

"As we reflect on the recent anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War, and the story of Sir Keith Park, we should remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by our own forces and by citizens from the Commonwealth and other countries in our 'Finest Hour'."

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, commented:

"Sir Keith Park was a brave and exceptional fighter pilot; he was an outstanding senior officer who never failed at any task he was given.

"He inspired all who worked with and for him, with his quiet gallantry, supreme personal inspiration, organisation and mental agility.

"He is a hero to the Royal Air Force, to this country, and to New Zealand, whose citizens have so often joined us in battle, from the World Wars through the Falklands to the present day."

London Mayor Boris Johnson said:

"London owes an enormous debt to Sir Keith Park for his courage and leadership which helped to win the Battle of Britain. Hosting a temporary memorial in Trafalgar Square in time for the 70th anniversary of this epic battle is a mark of our gratitude for the bravery and commitment this great hero showed to London and the world.

"And it was lovely to listen to a Spitfire engine over London, still capable of setting off car alarms. His determination not to give in during the Battle of Britain has led directly to London being the democratic, tolerant capital it is today."

Commenting on the unveiling, Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, the modern day equivalent of Sir Keith Park, who currently commands the air defence fighter squadrons that protect UK airspace today, said:

"One of the Royal Air Force's key roles, on its formation in 1918, was and remains the control of the airspace above the UK, to ensure that the country is safe from air attack.

"Today, as they were during the Battle of Britain, a force of fighter aircraft are held on 'quick reaction alert' all year round, day and night, with a remit to 'scramble' within a few minutes to intercept any aircraft that enters the UK's airspace without proper authorisation.

"Sir Keith Park's legacy endures today through the unwavering courage, professionalism and dedication of the men and women who serve in the Royal Air Force."

The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces. The RAF had 531 serviceable fighters out of a total of 609, with another 289 in reserve. The Luftwaffe, in total, had 4,539 aircraft. Nearly 3,000 British, Commonwealth and other nations' pilots took part, with 544 of them losing their lives before the battle was over.

Sir Keith Park was a New Zealander who fought in the First World War as part of the field artillery at Gallipoli and then the Somme, where he was wounded and evacuated to England. Medically graded unfit to continue service with the artillery, he joined the Royal Flying Corps, remaining with the Air Arm when it was incorporated into the Royal Air Force in 1918.

Marshal of the RAF, Lord Tedder, said of Sir Keith 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."

The statue of Sir Keith Park commemorates the approximately 3,000 pilots who fought during the Battle of Britain. Today, there are just over 105 survivors. To the best of the Memorial Campaign's knowledge, the nationality breakdown of 'The Few' is as follows:

• Australia - 33
• Belgium - 29
• Canada - 98
• Czechoslovakia - 88
• France - 13
• Ireland - 10
• Jamaica - 1
• Newfoundland - 1
• New Zealand - 126
• Poland - 145
• The Rhodesias - 3
• South Africa - 25
• United Kingdom - 2,353
• United States - 11

Hazel Gregory, aged 88 from Sleaford, was an 18-year-old Senior Aircraftwoman fighter-plotter in the 11 Group bunker at RAF Uxbridge during the Battle of Britain. She said:

"I remember Sir Keith well - he was always there making decision after decision. He was a lovely man - and he used to bring us girls bags of liquorice allsorts.

"We never had time to think about what would happen if the German bombers got through. It was a very busy time; I was once at the Watford end of the table and I remember one 400 aircraft raid - you couldn't see the surface of the table it was so covered with movements.

"That day I remember Sir Keith talking about bringing down the 'Big Wing' from 12 Group to help out and they smashed through the enemy aircraft."

Mrs Gregory was later offered an officer commission and worked at Bletchley Park in the famous code-breaking 'Hut 6'; she finished the war as a Flight Lieutenant.

One of 'The Few' was Bill Green who was an aircraftman second class fitter in the RAF in 1938 when he applied to become aircrew. He said:

"Once the war started everything became a blur - I was only half-trained on 501 County of Bristol Squadron when I was posted to Biggin Hill's 32 Squadron flying Hurricanes. My CO [Commanding Officer] pointed to an aircraft and said 'that's yours'.

"I had never flown one before and I had only done one circuit when I was told to land because an air battle was beginning. I overshot the runway and stopped just six yards [5.5m] from the hedge."

Later in the battle, Mr Green, by now a sergeant pilot, was shot down by flak at 20,000ft [6km] after engaging a Junkers JU88 over Deal in Kent. He was blown out of his Hurricane, losing his boots on the way:

"My parachute wrapped around me and only opened at 200ft [61 metres]. One more second and I would have been dead," he said.

Terry Smith added:

"It has taken 69 years to give expression to what Sir Keith Park achieved. There is no conclusion other than if this Battle of Britain in 1940 had been lost, then the outcome of the Second World War, and our current lives, would have been very different. Trafalgar Square currently celebrates the nation's military heroes - Naval, Army and now Royal Air Force. It can truly be termed a 'Square for Heroes'.

In August 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill said:

"The gratitude of every home in our island, in our empire, and indeed throughout the world except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unweakened by their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and their devotion.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."