Dowding gave his name to ‘The Dowding System’, the first wide-area, ground-controlled interception network, and was instrumental in bringing modern aircraft such as the Spitfire and Hurricane into service during the pre-war period.
The Dowding system, essentially the forerunner of radar, played a particularly important part in this country’s victory in the Battle of Britain by giving the Royal Air Force advance notice of attacks by enemy aircraft so that they could be intercepted.
Credit: (both pictures) The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust
Born at St Ninian’s Preparatory School in Moffat on 24 April, 1882, Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief during the Battle of Britain and is acknowledged to have played a crucial role in defending the country against Nazi invasion plans.
He served as an officer in the British Army during the early years of the 20th century before joining the Royal Flying Corps at the start of the first world war, later serving as a fighter pilot and as commanding officer of No 16 Squadron. Towards the end of a significant inter-war career, he was appointed chief of the newly created RAF Fighter Command in July 1936.
One of Dowding's own 'Fighter Boys', Group Captain John Hemingway, DFC, now 105, recently praised his "dedication to his aircrew and his skills as a leader". Read the full story here.
Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding
