Air Chief Marshal Hugh C Dowding

Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding covers a wide range of major historical issues in this interview about the Battle of Britain. We hear about his efforts to persuade Winston Churchill not to send any more pilots and planes on operations over France after 3 June as it would leave Britain too vulnerable to air attack at home. He also discusses the importance of radar and aircraft developments and looks at why Hitler changed tack and decided to stop bombing British aerodromes and aim for London instead.

In reply to the question 'Would you have done anything differently?' he ends with a cryptic comment. While at the Army Staff College, Camberley, in 1913, Hugh Dowding learnt to fly at his own expense, gaining his pilot's licence after a mere 100 minutes in the air. He also earned the nickname 'Stuffy' and developed a lifelong obsession with skiing.

Originally broadcast 12 July 1968.