Hugh Dowding
| The Lord Dowding | |
|---|---|
Lord Dowding
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Stuffy |
| Born |
24 April 1882 Moffat, Scotland |
| Died | 15 February 1970 (aged 87) Royal Tunbridge Wells, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army (1900–18) Royal Air Force (1918–42) |
| Years of service | 1900–42 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held |
RAF Fighter Command (1936–40) Air Member for Research and Development (1935–36) Air Member for Supply and Research (1930–35) Fighting Area, Air Defence of Great Britain (1929–30) RAF Transjordan and Palestine (1929) No. 1 Group (1920–22) No. 16 Group (1919–20) No. 16 Squadron (1915–16) |
| Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Mentioned in Despatches |
Air Chief Marshal Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding, GCB, GCVO, CMG (24 April 1882 – 15 February 1970) was an officer in the Royal Air Force. He served as a fighter pilot and then as commanding officer of No. 16 Squadron during the First World War. During the inter-war years he became Air Officer Commanding Fighting Area, Air Defence of Great Britain and then joined the Air Council as Air Member for Supply and Research. He was Air Officer Commanding RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, and is generally credited with playing a crucial role in Britain's defence, and hence, the defeat of Adolf Hitler's plan to invade Britain. He was unwillingly replaced in command in November 1940 by Big Wing advocate Sholto Douglas.
Dowding was born at St. Ninian's Boys' Preparatory School in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, the son of Arthur John Caswall Dowding and Maud Caroline Dowding (née Tremenheere). His father had taught at Fettes College in Edinburgh before moving to the southern Scottish town of Moffat. Dowding was educated at St Ninian's School and Winchester College. He trained at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 18 August 1900.
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