History
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was the head of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, and the main architect of its success.
Photo: Hugh Dowding (right) with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Bentley Priory, the Headquarters of Fighter Command, in September 1940. (IWM CH 1233)
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Andrew Marr reveals the origin of a famous Churchill phrase
Andrew Marr reveals the origin of Churchill鈥檚 famous phrase, 鈥淣ever in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few鈥, and how RAF Fighter Command repulsed attacks by the Luftwaffe.
Dowding's role in the Battle of Britain
A.J.P. Taylor describes the crucial role that Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding played in the Battle of Britain. He also discusses Dowding's argument with Churchill that led to the former being discarded after the battle was over.
Air Chief Marshal Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding GCB, GCVO, CMG (24 April 1882 鈥 15 February 1970) was a British officer in the Royal Air Force. He served as a fighter pilot and then as commanding officer of No. 16 Squadron during the First World War. During the inter-war years he became Air Officer Commanding Fighting Area, Air Defence of Great Britain and then joined the Air Council as Air Member for Supply and Research. He was Air Officer Commanding RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, and is generally credited with playing a crucial role in Britain's defence, and hence, the defeat of Adolf Hitler's plan to invade Britain. He unwillingly relinquished command in November 1940 and was replaced by Big Wing advocate, Sholto Douglas.
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