The Battle of Britain: New Perspectives

This is a reassessment of how RAF fighters defeated the German Luftwaffe in 1940 and saved Britain from invasion. This book examines significant elements of the battle, including personality clashes in the RAF, opposing policies in the Air Ministry, and the controversial treatment of Hugh Dowding. The author examines how Dowding commanded his squadrons, and how every day he was under personal attack from rivals for his position, and from enemies in the Air Ministry who espoused different defensive measures, despite the severity of the attack and the manifest success of Dowding's methods. Also examined is the effect of this controversy on the fighter pilots' tactics; there is a detailed view from the Luftwaffe side, and also a explanation of why Dowding was immediately "retired" at the end of the conflict, and never rewarded like other successful commanders.