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The Battle of Britain: Dowding and the First Victory 1940
2002 "THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN" Dowding And The First Victory, 1940 by John Ray.
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
John Philip Ray
20 books2 followersDr John Philip Ray has taught history for forty years. In 1988 he retired from a large secondary school in Kent to undertake postgraduate research on Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding and the Battle of Britain. His subsequent book The Battle of Britain: New Perspectives, published in 1994, sought to re-examine the complicated political and military background to that most important struggle. He is author of more than thirty earlier books, mostly for secondary school students preparing for examinations.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 28, 2010
The Battle of Britain - Dowding and the First Victory, 1940
Recommended with reservations (read on!).
The book is made of seven chapters:
1- Dowding's Position in June 1940
2- The Treat from the Luftwaffe
3- The Opening Phase of the Battle, 10 July to 18 August
4- The Development of the Big Wing Controversy, 19 August to 7 September
5- The Battle Within a Battle, 7 September to 16 October
6- Night Air Defence
7- Changes at Fighter Command
It aslo includes some interesting appendices.
The book's title is misleading. If you grabbed it at your local bookstore, seduced by the neat classic picture of tightly formed Spits, hoping to relive the exhilarating tension of dogfighting above England in the most epic aerial battle of all time, then you're in for bit of a surprise. True, the book has as its main subject the aerial battle that took place in the summer/fall of 1940, but the focus of the book is set elsewhere. Ray seeks to uncover the truth about what happened at the British highest level of command during the battle, both in Fighter command level, on the Air Staff, and above, in the political sphere, in regard of what is now commonly known as the Dowding controversy.
As it is now usually recognized, the conduct of the Battle of Britain went far from smoothly on either side of the Channel. Lack of a cohesive and unified leadership and the absence of clear objectives for the Luftwaffe are generally well known factors explaining its lack of success. The presence of long-standing tensions within Fighter Command leading to Dowding and Park (AOC 11th Group) demise in november 1940, although equally well known, are still hotly debated today. The crux of the debate revolve around what happened to Dowding, and why. Although simple, these questions lead to far more complicated interpretations and form the main body of the book. The author evidently decided to go as deep as he possibly could in various private and public archives to uncover all communications between the most important actors. By a careful and precise analysis of communicates, letters, memorandas and reports, Ray tries to reconstruct the chain of events (and opinions) that led to Dowding's departure.
The end result is a solid, convincing and well supported (albeit sometimes arid) thesis suggesting a shared responsibility between Dowding himself and his opponents in RAF high command. Dowding tactless and uninspired response to the fast growing dispute between Park and Leigh-Mallory (the so-called 'Big Wing controversy') about tactics and his slow reaction against the rising menace of night bombing were important factors. Dowding was old, too, slated for a while for retirement in a RAF full of younger senior officers eager to assume high responsibilities. And then, the political plays at higher level often created void in leadership (Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of Sate for Air, and Sir Cyrill Newal, Chief of the Air Staff, for example) which in turn provided opportunities for those willing to grab them. Sholto Douglas, who eventually took Dowding's job, was one such officer, and he seized the momentum that Dowding, busily overseeing the day-to-day conduct of the battle, indirectly offered him. Accusing Douglas of backstabbing Dowding would be false, but rather, he played on Dowding's quickly fading popularity among senior officers to carve a place for a different 'gang'.
The biggest reservation I have about this book is that it lacks a serious study of the big wing controversy. Sure, the author does explain what it is, but a deeper look at the problem as seen from either side of the Thames and especially as seen from the sky would have been an interesting addition and, quite franky, a welcome change of pace. I readily admit that I was sometimes tired to read about "a letter sent in the morning of the 15th of july" or "an anonymous memo circulated amongs MPs the previous week", in view of the book's title.
Nonetheless, Ray's book, as opposed to Deighton's, is a true history book. The author takes great care to situate his work among the many studies that were published. He also does a great job at explaining what the Dowding controversy is about and how his book seeks to contribute to it. It is a thorough research of relevant archives, almost to a point of being tiresome (hence my 'recommended with reservation'). If you enjoy serious historical works, this is a great book to learn about a side of the battle that has been touched many times, but rarely discussed at lenght. It is not, however, a book for those whishing to learn how the battle was fought in the sky.
Jean-Vincent Roy
Recommended with reservations (read on!).
The book is made of seven chapters:
1- Dowding's Position in June 1940
2- The Treat from the Luftwaffe
3- The Opening Phase of the Battle, 10 July to 18 August
4- The Development of the Big Wing Controversy, 19 August to 7 September
5- The Battle Within a Battle, 7 September to 16 October
6- Night Air Defence
7- Changes at Fighter Command
It aslo includes some interesting appendices.
The book's title is misleading. If you grabbed it at your local bookstore, seduced by the neat classic picture of tightly formed Spits, hoping to relive the exhilarating tension of dogfighting above England in the most epic aerial battle of all time, then you're in for bit of a surprise. True, the book has as its main subject the aerial battle that took place in the summer/fall of 1940, but the focus of the book is set elsewhere. Ray seeks to uncover the truth about what happened at the British highest level of command during the battle, both in Fighter command level, on the Air Staff, and above, in the political sphere, in regard of what is now commonly known as the Dowding controversy.
As it is now usually recognized, the conduct of the Battle of Britain went far from smoothly on either side of the Channel. Lack of a cohesive and unified leadership and the absence of clear objectives for the Luftwaffe are generally well known factors explaining its lack of success. The presence of long-standing tensions within Fighter Command leading to Dowding and Park (AOC 11th Group) demise in november 1940, although equally well known, are still hotly debated today. The crux of the debate revolve around what happened to Dowding, and why. Although simple, these questions lead to far more complicated interpretations and form the main body of the book. The author evidently decided to go as deep as he possibly could in various private and public archives to uncover all communications between the most important actors. By a careful and precise analysis of communicates, letters, memorandas and reports, Ray tries to reconstruct the chain of events (and opinions) that led to Dowding's departure.
The end result is a solid, convincing and well supported (albeit sometimes arid) thesis suggesting a shared responsibility between Dowding himself and his opponents in RAF high command. Dowding tactless and uninspired response to the fast growing dispute between Park and Leigh-Mallory (the so-called 'Big Wing controversy') about tactics and his slow reaction against the rising menace of night bombing were important factors. Dowding was old, too, slated for a while for retirement in a RAF full of younger senior officers eager to assume high responsibilities. And then, the political plays at higher level often created void in leadership (Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of Sate for Air, and Sir Cyrill Newal, Chief of the Air Staff, for example) which in turn provided opportunities for those willing to grab them. Sholto Douglas, who eventually took Dowding's job, was one such officer, and he seized the momentum that Dowding, busily overseeing the day-to-day conduct of the battle, indirectly offered him. Accusing Douglas of backstabbing Dowding would be false, but rather, he played on Dowding's quickly fading popularity among senior officers to carve a place for a different 'gang'.
The biggest reservation I have about this book is that it lacks a serious study of the big wing controversy. Sure, the author does explain what it is, but a deeper look at the problem as seen from either side of the Thames and especially as seen from the sky would have been an interesting addition and, quite franky, a welcome change of pace. I readily admit that I was sometimes tired to read about "a letter sent in the morning of the 15th of july" or "an anonymous memo circulated amongs MPs the previous week", in view of the book's title.
Nonetheless, Ray's book, as opposed to Deighton's, is a true history book. The author takes great care to situate his work among the many studies that were published. He also does a great job at explaining what the Dowding controversy is about and how his book seeks to contribute to it. It is a thorough research of relevant archives, almost to a point of being tiresome (hence my 'recommended with reservation'). If you enjoy serious historical works, this is a great book to learn about a side of the battle that has been touched many times, but rarely discussed at lenght. It is not, however, a book for those whishing to learn how the battle was fought in the sky.
Jean-Vincent Roy
February 20, 2023
Very interesting analysis of the relationship between Sir Hugh Dowding and the Air Ministry. Most books on the subject are written with an agenda, this one seemed to do a good job of being balanced and highlighted the importance of the night-fighter issue, which is unusual. But be warned, it is not a straightforward ‘History of the Battle of Britain’ - if that is what you are after, look elsewhere. It is, however, very good at what it sets out to do.
February 5, 2021
This is not a narrative of the Battle of Britain, but a very detailed study of Dowding and his relationships with other important RAF personnel, Air Ministry and politicians. For this reason I did find it a tough read, hence 3 stars. However, the author did well to research a difficult subject and as a result presents the Battle of Britain in a very different light.
November 3, 2024
A pain-staking examination of the dismissal of Dowding after the Battle of Britain. An essential book for anyone who wants to establish the truth. Dowding emerges as a great man still but one with flaws. Churchill convincingly exonerated from claims he acted poorly towards Dowding. A serious and excellent book.
January 18, 2025
Invoked the 50 Page Rule on this one. It is a well-documented writing about the Air Ministry and War Department politics in WWII Britain. It was not what I was looking for about the history of the campaign. Out after 50.
May 23, 2020
The title of this book is a bit misleading. Yes, it covers the battle of Britain, but you won't find detailed descriptions of RAF fighters hitting German Luftwaffe bomber formations.
The main focus of this book is on how Hugh Dowding, the commander of Fighter Command, fought for the sky over Britain. And he didn't only have to cope with that. Next he also had to wage a war with the Air Ministery and with other high ranking officers in the RAF. And at the end of the daylight offensive he suddenly was confronted with a shift to night raids. Shortly after the end of the battle, Dowding was replaced and was put on another job. He did not get promoted or honored for the role he played during this hot Summer of 1940 when the cause of the free world was at stake. Why?
This book goes into the details of what happened and why. It does so in detail, while following the battles that raged in the skies over Britain during the day. It is a part of the battle that is hardly covered in any other books and if it is covered, part of it is based on myths and misinterpretations of facts. It shows how personalities clashed, an air war that was changing on an almost daily basis, but also how important Dowding's role was in the period leading up to WWII and the battle of Britain.
Despite the lack of dogfights, the books does make for a solid read and delivers a useful overview to access this important part of the war.
The main focus of this book is on how Hugh Dowding, the commander of Fighter Command, fought for the sky over Britain. And he didn't only have to cope with that. Next he also had to wage a war with the Air Ministery and with other high ranking officers in the RAF. And at the end of the daylight offensive he suddenly was confronted with a shift to night raids. Shortly after the end of the battle, Dowding was replaced and was put on another job. He did not get promoted or honored for the role he played during this hot Summer of 1940 when the cause of the free world was at stake. Why?
This book goes into the details of what happened and why. It does so in detail, while following the battles that raged in the skies over Britain during the day. It is a part of the battle that is hardly covered in any other books and if it is covered, part of it is based on myths and misinterpretations of facts. It shows how personalities clashed, an air war that was changing on an almost daily basis, but also how important Dowding's role was in the period leading up to WWII and the battle of Britain.
Despite the lack of dogfights, the books does make for a solid read and delivers a useful overview to access this important part of the war.
November 6, 2016
This was a fascinating and well researched study of leadership and tactics of Fighter Command and Dowding during the Battle of Britain.
The author suggests that most other accounts are too simplistic in throwing Dowding into the shadows, in portraying Big Wings as the solution and glorifying the RAF Fighter pilors who battled so hard in our skies. In reality it was more a case of the Germans losing the battle than us winning it; a personal vendetta against Dowding from politicians inside the Air Ministry which used dubious arguments to oust him and an extremely poor showing for Bader who comes across as a pushy prig.
Certainly Dowding lacked the leadership that was needed to win in a more convincing style. However, the arguments used to evict him are a twisted version of the tactics put forward by those involved.
This book is thoroughly researched and interesting. Unfortunately the writing is not particularly gripping!
The author suggests that most other accounts are too simplistic in throwing Dowding into the shadows, in portraying Big Wings as the solution and glorifying the RAF Fighter pilors who battled so hard in our skies. In reality it was more a case of the Germans losing the battle than us winning it; a personal vendetta against Dowding from politicians inside the Air Ministry which used dubious arguments to oust him and an extremely poor showing for Bader who comes across as a pushy prig.
Certainly Dowding lacked the leadership that was needed to win in a more convincing style. However, the arguments used to evict him are a twisted version of the tactics put forward by those involved.
This book is thoroughly researched and interesting. Unfortunately the writing is not particularly gripping!
December 22, 2008
During the battle of Britain Churchill famously said that "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Apparently this didn't extend to Hugh Dowding (the C-in-C of RAF's Fighter Command), or to Keith Park (the Commander of 11 Group, which bore the brunt of the fighting), as both were unceremoniously dumped as soon as the battle was won.
This book can be quite heavy going at times but it's incredibly well researched. It's quite sobering stuff - even at Britain's darkest hour the in-fighting in the RAF was won by those who played the political game best, regardless of the achievements of the people they were white-anting.
This book can be quite heavy going at times but it's incredibly well researched. It's quite sobering stuff - even at Britain's darkest hour the in-fighting in the RAF was won by those who played the political game best, regardless of the achievements of the people they were white-anting.
July 17, 2007
Only the English Channel and the RAF stood between Britain and the German invasion.
Detailed depiction of the carefully planned fighter intervention and the defensive strategy of Hugh Dowding, Commander-in-Chief, RAF Fighter Command. Yet, despite this victory, he was dismissed in October 1940.
Detailed depiction of the carefully planned fighter intervention and the defensive strategy of Hugh Dowding, Commander-in-Chief, RAF Fighter Command. Yet, despite this victory, he was dismissed in October 1940.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews