European Political News

From The Telegraph via Fleet of Worlds and Samizdata, a suggestion for a long overdue statue of Keith Park, one of (in my view) the two key figures in winning the Battle of Britain. The other was Hugh Dowding for fighting a political and bureaucratic battle to rebuild the RAF with modern equipment in the late 1930s, and for putting in place the best air control system in the world. From the Telegraph: A city philanthropist has called for the controversy over the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square to be permanently resolved by offering to fund a statue in tribute to the man who played a key role in saving Britain from Nazi invasion. on Keith Park’s role in the Battle: It was only after the war that the RAF officer’s pivotal role in defending Britain against Luftwaffe attacks was recognised by Lord Tedder, the RAF chief. “If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I do not believe it is realised how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgment and his skill, did to save not only this country but the world,” he said in 1947. It’s those Scots again: The New Zealand-born son of a Scottish geologist, Sir Keith fought in the bloody battles of Gallipoli and the Somme before an injury forced him to join the Royal Flying Corps where he achieved at least 20 kills against the Germans. It was the pilot’s astute tactical awareness of modern air warfare that saw him lead the defence of London and the south-east. If Alex Salmond will put up a statue in Edinburgh, then I will think slightly less unkindly of him. So… A statue: yes. In Trafalgar Square: yes On the Fourth Plinth: no. That has proved its value as a place for “guest statues” - both the inane and the fascinating. Tags: keith park, biggin hill, defender of london, ok1