Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding
Person Male Born 24/4/1882 Died 15/2/1970
Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, GCB, GCVO, CMG, RAF, Baron of Bentley Priory in the county of Middlesex.
Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command Royal Air Force from its formation in 1936 until November 1940, he was thus responsible for the preparation for and the conduct of the Battle of Britain. He equipped the command with the Hurricane and the Spitfire. He was among the first to appreciate the vital importance of R.D.R. (radar) and of an effective command and control system for his squadrons.
Born Moffat, Scotland. From 1942 onwards he developed a belief in spiritualism, theosophy, fairies and flying saucers. Died at home in Tunbridge Wells. In the 1969 film "The Battle of Britain" he is played by Olivier.
Our photo shows an exhibit in the Ops Room museum in Uxbridge, Dowding on the right.
