Dowding of Fighter Command: Victor of the Battle of Britain

by Vincent Orange

Making full use of archival sources, studies by other scholars, and information provided by family members, Vincent Orange has completed the first biography of Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding to cover his entire life. Soldier, pilot, wireless pioneer, squadron commander, spiritualist, champion skier, ‘Stuffy’ Dowding is perhaps best known as the creator of the first radar-based air defense system and his no less remarkable management of such throughout the Battle of Britain. Dowding served in ‘delightful and dangerous Iraq’, helped to pacify unrest in the Holy Land, was involved in the R.101 airship disaster and oversaw the creation of Britain’s first eight-gun monoplanes, the Hurricane and Spitfire. Controversially dismissed from Fighter Command and refused the R.A.F.’s highest rank, he nevertheless became the first airman elevated to the peerage since Trenchard. Westminster Abbey was packed for his memorial service in March 1970 with more that 46 air marshals in attendance; and in 1988 H.M. the Queen Mother unveiled a statue in his honor. With his expert eye, respected historian Orange has analyzed and evaluated every episode of Dowding’s exceptional career to produce what will be seen as the definitive biography.

Genres: History, Biography

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

George Vincent Orange was a British-born New Zealand historian of military aviation. A lecturer at the University of Canterbury for many years up until his retirement in 2002, he wrote several biographies of senior Royal Air Force officers, including Hugh Dowding and Keith Park.

Reviews

[Bob Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

All The Right Moves … Too Often Dismissed

As the old saying goes, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.” Sir Hugh Dowding broke his backside to insure his “fighter boys” would have their best chance to save their nation from Nazi invasion and subjugation in 1940, and when they won, he was sacked.
At war’s end, the same fate awaited his boss, Winston Churchill.
Bureaucracies, even during a war for survival, are subject to jealousy, career climbers and envy at the highest levels. And Dowding, deemed “Stuffy” and always a straight shooter, put his pilots’ lives and victory above his own career.
There are lessons to be learned there.
If you enjoy and learn from history - especially if you have WWII air crew in your family history - my Dad flew with the U.S. 5th Air Force, my wife’s Canadian uncle for RAF Bomber Command - then this is a great read.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. For any reader with even a general knowledge of the Battle of Britain, Dowding is a key figure. How he came to prepare fighter command for its "finest hour" should be a fascinating study. Unfortunately in Vincent Orange's hands it isn't.

This book seems as though it is based on the many articles, letters and books that have been written about Dowding since 1940, and not with any evidence that the author spoke to anyone that had personal knowledge of the man. It reads as a list of promotions and dates, and makes only superficial mention of anything personal to Dowding.

I couldn't tell whilst reading this book whether the author admires his subject or not. Whilst claiming early on that Dowding wasn't "stuffy" at all as was implied by his nickname, Orange manages to draw a portrait of a very straight-laced individual indeed. I am sure that the author would claim he has presented both flaws and qualities in the character of Dowding, but I suggest that instead he has say on the fence.

The only time the narrative becomes more animated is when Orange is describing the tension between Dowding and Park with Leigh-Mallory. However, I don't particularly relish tabloidesque prose in the middle of a factual account.

The author assumes that his reader has a more than general knowledge of the topic and period covered, and it is indeed needed to keep up with the asides, future references and chaotic layout of this book. Each chapter is made up of sub-sections which seem to end abruptly and have very little in common with what came before or succeeds them.

In my opinion the author wanted to write an account of the Battle of Britain, and he does make some interesting points that are usually glossed over by writers promoting the myth of "The Few". However, as a biography of Dowding the book lacks depth.

Not only does the chaotic and poorly planned layout of this books narrative hinder a reader from fully engaging with the subject matter, the author never manages to demonstrate a thorough and deep-set knowledge of his subject. Dowding remains enigmatic after all 273 pages have been read.

[Eric Grounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Vincent Orange's books are very easy to read, yet they are stuffed full of interesting and relevant detail. A wonderful education