BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29624, 21 September 1961, Page 20

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

“Tactics Were Correct”

“The fighter tactics used during the Battle of Britain were most certainly correct,” said Group Captain C. F. Gray at a Christchurch Tin Hat Club tattoo on Tuesday evening. “Lord Dowding, then Corp-mander-in-Chief Fighter Command, and Sir Keith Park, then Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group, Fighter Command, were relieved of their posts after the Battle of Britain as it was thought the fighters should have attacked tn wing formation instead of the smaller groups that were used. “This did not take into account the fact that the pilots had not been trained to use wing formation,” said Group Captain Gray. Group Captain Gray was the highest scoring New Zea. land fighter pilot. He left New Zealand to join the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in 1938 and retired in May, 1951. In that time he flew about 2500 hours and was credited with 27 i German aircraft. Group Captain Gray said he thought none of the Battle of Britain pilots realised the deep significance of what was going on at the time. ‘‘One thing is certain though, we were all very scared.”