Hugh Dowding Biography and Timeline

Birth of Hugh Dowding

Hugh Dowding is born in Moffat, Scotland.

Hugh Dowding Born

The future commander of RAF Fighter Command is born.

Birth of Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding

Birth of Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding

Commander of Royal Flying Corp

Appointed Commander of the Royal Flying Corps

Air Vice Marshal

Appointed Air Vice Marshal

Air Council

Joins the Air Council

Air Marshal

Appointed Air Marshal

Commander of RAF Fighter Comm

Appointed Head of RAF Fighter Command

Chain Home Integration

Integrates radar warning with Fighter Command control rooms.

Role range: 1936-1940

Chain Home

Chain Home forms part of Britain's wartime air defence system.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Chain Home Radar Network

Completes a national radar network linked to Fighter Command reporting centres.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of France

despite the objections of its commander Hugh Dowding that this left home defences under-strength, Churchill sent fighter squadrons to support operations in France,where the RAF suffered heavy losses

Role range: 1939-1945

Fighter Command

Despite the objections of its commander Hugh Dowding that this left home defences under-strength, Churchill sent fighter squadrons to support operations in France,where the RAF suffered heavy losses

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

Commands Fighter Command as the official Battle of Britain period begins.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

Directs Britain's integrated fighter defence through the Dowding System.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

An offensive is discovered when the British use the enigma machine

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

Coordinates Fighter Command during one of the battle's largest air actions.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

Moves limited squadrons carefully between threatened sectors.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

The largest air Battle of this period. 5 major actions are fought but the Germans lose 76 to Britains 34 aircraft

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

Retaliation for the bombing of London. RAF bombers attack Berlin for the 1st time

Role range: 1939-1945

Bombing of Berlin

RAF bombers attack Berlin for the 1st time, retaliation for the bombing of London

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

Dowding manages reserves as pressure on southern sector stations increases.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

Fighter Command flies more than one thousand sorties during intense fighting.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

Radar information helps Fighter Command conserve pilots and aircraft.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

The "Dowding system", a set of reporting chains to move information from the various observation points to the pilots in their fighters, named after its chief architect

Role range: 1939-1945

Dowding System

Combines radar, Observer Corps reports and command control for fighter interception.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Fighter Command

Fighter Command filters radar reports into tracks for sector control rooms.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

Coordinates Fighter Command during the decisive September air battles.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

The day's German losses undermine hopes of defeating Fighter Command.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

Commands Fighter Command through the official final day of the Battle of Britain.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Battle of Britain

The Luftwaffe has failed to gain the air superiority required for invasion.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1936-1940

Retirement

Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal removes Dowding from his post and replaces him with Sholto Douglas

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Britain

The "Dowding system", a set of reporting chains to move information from the various observation points to the pilots in their fighters, named after its chief architect. Credited with winning the battle and made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Dunkirk

When the Allied resistance collapsed, works closely with Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, the commander of 11 Fighter Group, in organizing cover for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of France

Dowding, nicknamed "Stuffy" by his men, is unwilling to sacrifice aircraft and pilots in the attempt to aid Allied troops during the Battle of France

Role range: 1939-1945

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

When the Allied resistance collapsed, works closely with Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, the commander of 11 Fighter Group, in organizing cover for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk

Role range: 1939-1945

Knight of the Grand Cross

Credited with winning the battle and made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Role range: 1939-1945

Retirement

Retires drom the RAF

Role range: 1939-1945

Peerage

Created Baron Dowding of Bentley Priory

Role range: 1939-1945

Death of Hugh Dowding

Death of Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding