Dowding.

This is coolbert:

One person to whom military historians have generally given short shrift is Air Marshal Dowding of the RAF [British Royal Air Force]? Commanded the RAF during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

A battle which at the time seemed to be a live or die issue for the British. A battle during which time Dowding was the man on the spot. A man on the spot who seemed to be surrounded by controversy, even as the battle raged.

At the time, Dowding was roundly criticized, even by his subordinates. Was seen a being too timid, not pressing home the attack against intruding German Luftwaffe air attacks.

And there was some credence to this argument. In many cases, Dowding did NOT seem to be aggressive enough. One of Dowding's subordinates, Leigh-Mallory, groused constantly about the SMALL formations Dowding preferred to send up to engage and defend against German intruders.

Normally, a combat commander accused of timidity by his subordinates is considered to be accused of a serious charge. One that can often result in that combat commander being relieved. Dowding, however, did retain his command and did emerge victorious in the Battle of Britain.

Very early on in the battle, Dowding DID realize that for him to send up massed formations of Spitfires to confront and defend against massed formations of attacking Luftwaffe aircraft would have been for his command suicidal. He would have had losses of aircraft and aircrew [pilots] that could not be replaced fast enough. The battle would rapidly go in the favor of the Luftwaffe, with disastrous consequences for England.

Dowding rather decided to use a minimum size force to inflict a maximum number of casualties on German attacking aircraft, at the time and place of Dowding's own choosing, all the while husbanding his force and conserving it for future engagements. This would mean the Luftwaffe WOULD NOT be able to engage the RAF in a large climactic battle, the result of which would be NOT in favor of the RAF. Calamitous consequences for the English would be avoided.

This strategy of Dowding's DID prove to be successful. The Luftwaffe WAS NOT able to engage and destroy the RAF defender in a climactic air battle. Dowding was able to preserve and husband his defending force all throughout the Battle of Britain. England was saved by the strategy and tactics of Dowding.

Dowding was successful to a large degree due to a tremendous advantage he had. Through the intercept and decryption of German Engima encrypted radio traffic, Dowding KNEW in advance the time and place and strength of Luftwaffe attacks upon Britain. Dowding KNEW where, when, and in what strength to send up his own Spitfires in the effort to use minimum force to inflict maximum casualties. This proved to be a TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE.

A tremendous advantage that Dowding's subordinates were NOT aware. They WERE NOT privy to Ultra intelligence [intelligence derived from the intercept and decryption of Enigma messages]. And could not be made privy to such intelligence.

In retrospect, the tactics and strategy of Dowling WERE the correct course of action to follow. However, Dowding, in the aftermath of the Battle of Britain, WAS relieved of command as it was felt his subordinates did not have adequate confidence in his command ability.

Perhaps those subordinates, years later, say in 1975, when the Ultra secret became common knowledge, rued the judgment they had made years earlier of their able commander, Dowding??

Epitaph for Air Marshal Dowding:

"After his death in 1970, his remains were interred in Westminster Abbey, a fitting tribute to his remarkable achievements."


coolbert.