Trafalgar Square - tomorrow 4/11/09!!
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Trafalgar Square - tomorrow 4/11/09!!
A statue of World War Two hero Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park will be unveiled on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday 4 November 2009.
Sir Keith commanded Number 11 Group of Fighter Command which had responsibility for the defence of London and the South East during the Battle of Britain and his inspirational leadership and tactical brilliance was central to Britain winning the battle, which in turn helped determine the outcome of the entire Second World War. His statue will be on the Fourth Plinth for six months and then a permanent memorial statue of Park will then be erected in Waterloo Place on the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 2010.
The Trafalgar Square event will commence at 4pm with (weather permitting) a Royal Air Force flypast of a Spitfire and Typhoon (Eurofighter, NOT Hawker!!) from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, following which, supported by the Central Band of the RAF and the Queen’s Colour Squadron, the statue will be unveiled by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, Terry Smith, Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign and Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Air Staff.
Sir Keith commanded Number 11 Group of Fighter Command which had responsibility for the defence of London and the South East during the Battle of Britain and his inspirational leadership and tactical brilliance was central to Britain winning the battle, which in turn helped determine the outcome of the entire Second World War. His statue will be on the Fourth Plinth for six months and then a permanent memorial statue of Park will then be erected in Waterloo Place on the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 2010.
The Trafalgar Square event will commence at 4pm with (weather permitting) a Royal Air Force flypast of a Spitfire and Typhoon (Eurofighter, NOT Hawker!!) from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, following which, supported by the Central Band of the RAF and the Queen’s Colour Squadron, the statue will be unveiled by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, Terry Smith, Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign and Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Air Staff.
Keith Park
A fitting tribute to someone that kept his head in difficult times and suffered from the politics of the day.
At least history has now rectified his poor treatment and prooved his tatics were correct in the circumstances then prevailing.
Sad they could not provide a Hurricane for the fly past (his preferred mode of personal transport),and the aircraft he visited the BOB airfields with.
Pobjoy
At least history has now rectified his poor treatment and prooved his tatics were correct in the circumstances then prevailing.
Sad they could not provide a Hurricane for the fly past (his preferred mode of personal transport),and the aircraft he visited the BOB airfields with.
Pobjoy
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I shall be attending, representing the airline of his native country - and I'm very proud to do so. I shall try and post links to photos if any of them come out well enough!
