Businessman wants recognition for NZ war hero | NATIONAL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

London is a city of statues but nowhere will you find one of the New Zealander who was crucial in defending south-eastern England during the Battle of Britain.

Businessman Terry Smith is shocked by the lack of recognition for a man "who made an enormous contribution".

Trafalgar Square is home to many of Britain's war heroes and Smith is keen to add a nine foot statue of Sir Keith wearing his flying suit and helmet.

He is prepared to pay $300,000 for the statue and says the project is his passion.

"I can only believe it's the type of passion he must have had to achieve what he did. I think we should try to match that for him," says Smith.

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Wasn't he the one who used the 'big wing' strategy during the battle of britain?

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

No - the 'Big Wing' was favoured by Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

That's right, he was the commander north of Park's group. Which is why Park compaliained about the time it took to form these 'big wings'. Got the names mixed up. Many thanks Sir Martin.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

There has been lingering controversy about the way in which Park was treated after the Battle of Britain. In 1969, film director Guy Hamilton took great care to redress the balance in his movie 'The Battle Of Britain' in which Trevor Howard gave a superb performance as Park which was unanimously agreed to capture something of the style of the real man.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson