Dowding and Churchill

Ref: 4617

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{detailed description}Arguably Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh —later Lord — Dowding was one of the greatest Englishmen of the 20th century. What is not in dispute is that he was largely responsible for building up Fighter Command from nothing in 1936 to the efficient defensive force that won the Battle of Britain in 1940 against heavy odds. Indeed, while still short of aircraft, Fighter
Command, with its revolutionary early warning radar, was alone in being adequately prepared for German attacks against mainland Britain.
While Churchill quickly recognised the strategic importance of the Battle of Britain and so famously sang the praises of its pilots, at the same time he stood by, at best, while their commander was summarily relieved of his command and later shuffled into retirement without recognition, reward or promotion. When the Air Ministry published a brief account of the Battle in March 1941 without any mention of Dowding, Churchill was furiously indignant. Yet in November 1940 he had acquiesced in Dowding's removal.
This thought-provoking and authoritative book sets out to reveal the factors that led to Dowding's dismissal in the first place, the extent of any conspiracy behind this injustice and names those responsible and their motives. As well as minutely examining the role of those fellow officers involved, Churchill's part in this shabby and mystifying saga also comes under the microscope.
In addition to presenting a new and dramatic angle to the Battle of Britain, historian Jack Dixon takes the opportunity to place Dowding's achievements in their true perspective.
{Author / Publisher / Date}by Jack Dixon
published by Pen and Sword 2008 1st edn. 256pp illustrated, index, appendix, bibliography. 17x24
{condition}mint, inc. d/j.
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