Dowding of Fighter Command: Victor of the Battle of Britain - Hardcover

Orange, Vincent

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1906502145 ISBN 13: 9781906502140

Publisher: Grub Street Publishing, 2008

Synopsis

Making full use of archival sources, studies by other scholars, and information provided by family members, Vincent Orange has completed the first biography of Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding to cover his entire life. Soldier, pilot, wireless pioneer, squadron commander, spiritualist, champion skier, 'Stuffy' Dowding is perhaps best known as the creator of the first radar-based air defence system and his no less remarkable management of such throughout the Battle of Britain. Dowding served in 'delightful and dangerous Iraq', helped to pacify unrest in the Holy Land, was involved in the R.101 airship disaster and oversaw the creation of Britain's first eight-gun monoplanes, the Hurricane and Spitfire.Controversially dismissed from Fighter Command and refused the RAF's highest rank, he nevertheless became the first airman elevated to the peerage since Trenchard. Westminster Abbey was packed for his memorial service in March 1970 with more that 46 air marshals in attendance; and in 1988 HM the Queen Mother unveiled a statue in his honour. With his expert eye, respected historian Orange has analysed and evaluated every episode of Dowding's exceptional career to produce what will be seen as the definitive biography.

About this title

Review

Making full use of archival sources, previously completed studies by other scholars, and information provided by family members, the author has completed the first biography of Dowding to cover his entire life. This well written account is, quite simply, Dowding's life story! --Britain at War Magazine

a cracking good read backed by exceptional reasearch --Flypast Magazine

Vincent Orange has produced a intensely researched and fascinating biography backed up by detailed source notes and a bibliography containing much of interest to those who seek further information. --Britain at War

The personality of the man comes to life in these pages ... It is difficult to put down and so very absorbing. It must be on your shelf. Stunning. --Spitfire Magazine

About the Author

Orange was born in 1935, in Shildon, County Durham and was educated at St. Mary's Grammar School, in Darlington, and at Hull University. Orange served in the Royal Air Force from 1953 to 1956. In 1962 he went to live in New Zealand and taught History at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch until he retired in 2002. His influence as an air power scholar is well known. His former students include prominent United Kingdom scholars Dr Joel Hayward and Dr Christina Goulter as well as Dr Adam Claasen of Massey University and Dr Andrew Conway of King's College London. Orange is married to Sandra, and has a stepdaughter Sarah.

Edition details

• Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1906502145
• ISBN 13: 9781906502140
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352