PARK KEITH: (1892-1975) New Zealand Air Chief Marshal of World War II, played a significant role dur...

PARK KEITH: (1892-1975) New Zealand Air Chief Marshal of World War II, played a significant role during the Battle of Britain. D.S., K R Park, one page, folio, France, 29th June 1918. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a combat report (headed Combats in the Air) relating to the destruction of an enemy aircraft by Captain J. E. Drummond of 48 Squadron, piloting a Bristol Fighter C.926. Drummond's narrative states, in part, 'While on O.P. over HANGEST, in conjunction with another flight of the Squadron, and with a formation of S.E.5's of 41 Squadron, I observed a red light fired by the S.E.5's, which were the lowest of the three formations, while my flight was the highest. I took my flight down, and as we swerved outwards to avoid our other flight, I came across a stray E[nemy] A[ircraft] which was going East at a great pace. As we passed down my Observer fired 100 rounds into the E.A. at 200 yards range; I then did a climbing turn and dived on the E.A. firing about 100 rounds…..The E.A. went at once into a vertical dive. I followed it down and when it flattened out, I put another 100 rounds into it…..Smoke started streaming from the E.A. which went over on its back and then fell into a slow, wide spin, smoke still streaming from it. When I saw it next it was diving vertically again…..We circled round the crash and saw it lying there, still smoking'. Park has signed his name at the foot in his capacity as a Major Commanding 48 Squadron, Royal Air Force, and in approval of Drummond's account. Several file holes to the left edge and corner, none of which affect the text or signature, and with a few pencil annotations. About VG £300-400