NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 106, 28 January 1939, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN

Responsible Post Held In England AIR COMMODORE PARK Dominion Special Service. DUNEDIN, January 27. Among many stories of New Zea-1-inders who have won distinction for themselves and their country abroad, few can surpass that of Air Commodore K R. Bark, formerly of Dunedin, who rose from the ranks war and was recently appointed Chief of Staff of the Fighter Command in England. He is the youngest son of Professor James I’ark, who was foi many years dean of the mining faculty at the University of Otago. A former pupil of the Otago Boys High School, Keith Rodney Bark left New Zealand as a gunner in the Fourth Reinforcements. By merit and devotion to duty he won his commission in the field at Gallipoli, and was transferred to the famous 29th Division. After the evacuation he was transferred With his unit to the Western Realizing the possibilities of the air, Lieutenant Park sought and was granted a transfer to the Royal Air Force and continued with that branch of the service till the end of the war. From 1916 to the end of the war he commanded No. 48 Squadron of Bristol fighters and was twice wounded. It was because of his success as a wartime pilot that he was numbered among the few who retained their commissions. As wing commander he held important posts in Egypt and in South America, and shortly after his return to England a few years ago he was the first and so far the only New Zealander to have the distinction of an honorary M.A. degree at Oxford.. A few months after the King’s accession he was one of four selected as air aide-de-camps to His Majesty King George VI. A few months ago he was promoted to the high rank of air commodore and the responsible position of Chief of Staff of the Fighter Command. ,