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Dowding of Fighter Command: Victor of the Battle of Britain
This, quite simply, is the definitive book on the life of the man who prepared the ground for victory in the Battle of Britain. Without him, Britain and the world would have entered a dark age. Making full use of archival sources and information provided by family members, respected historian Professor Vincent Orange has produced a masterful biography of a truly remarkable man.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
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35 people want to read
About the author
Vincent Orange
14 books1 followerGeorge 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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 29, 2023
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.
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.
April 3, 2013
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.
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.
February 5, 2014
All of Vincent Orange's books are very easy to read, yet they are stuffed full of interesting and relevant detail. A wonderful education
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews