Your best/favourite/most influential Air Force(s) Marhalls/Generals etc This would also include USAAF etc.
Here are mine: Stuffy Dowding Bomber Harris Both influential in continuing Britains survival and taking the fight to Germany.
Hugh Dowding would be my no. 1. He had to fight a new type of battle & devised the system as well as implementing it superbly. There was little scope for him to get away with any mistakes & he doesn't seem to have made any. He had enough resources to win but only just enough. He commanded the respect & admiration of his men because of his ability & actions rather than as a result of flamboyant gestures or an extrovert personality; he was very reserved & nicknamed "Stuffy" by his peers.
That's a tough one... Beyond the guys listed so far, Harris, Dowding, et al., I'd add Broadhurst, Coningham, and Quesada. Pioneers of ground-attack.
I'd add Broadhurst, Coningham, and Quesada. Pioneers of ground-attack. I once had the pleasure of meeting Sir harry broadhurst at a RAFHS seminar about Suez. He was AOC Bomber Command at the time of Suez.
Hugh Dowding tops my list. It's quite possible that Britians' War would have ended in the fall of 1940 if not for the forsight and singleminded drive of this man. Some of his actions angered those around him, including Churchill, and cost him the formal recognition that was rightfully his.
Some of his actions angered those around him, including Churchill, and cost him the formal recognition that was rightfully his it is said about Dowding that his biggest failing was that he was not a political Airman. As oppossed to trafford leigh Mallory.
Originally posted by morse1001@Aug 16 2005, 12:18 PM it is said about Dowding that his biggest failing was that he was not a political Airman. As oppossed to trafford leigh Mallory. [post=37792]Quoted post[/post] Wasn't Mallory the Vice Air Marshall that repeatedly left 11 Group airfields unprotected because he wanted to try "Big Wings" against the Germans.
My best or favourite!. Sir Hugh Dowding. He was tactical, methodical & calculating and alone at the top when Britain was most vulnerable. He knew Britain had to absorb, defy & defeat the incessant penetrations of the Luftwaffe to enable his beloved Britain to have any chance of reversing the roles. Whilst he may have been "stuffy" and was not a political animal, his dismissal was an ungrateful & miserable "reward" for turning the aspirations of Nazi Germany away from Britain.
I would say one important leader was General Ira C. Eaker, who was responsible for establishing and buildng up the U.S. 8th Air Force in England.
Originally posted by BrianP@Aug 17 2005, 03:41 PM I would say one important leader was General Ira C. Eaker, who was responsible for establishing and buildng up the U.S. 8th Air Force in England. [post=37804]Quoted post[/post] Probably learnt much of his organisation skills while Executive Assistant to Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, Chief of Air Service who was responsible for achieving the rebuild of the US Army Air Force in the 20's when Billy Mitchell was flying round dropping bombs and annoying the hell out of the War Department.
Originally posted by spidge+Aug 17 2005, 01:43 PM-->(spidge @ Aug 17 2005, 01:43 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-BrianP@Aug 17 2005, 03:41 PM I would say one important leader was General Ira C. Eaker, who was responsible for establishing and buildng up the U.S. 8th Air Force in England. [post=37804]Quoted post[/post] Probably learnt much of his organisation skills while Executive Assistant to Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, Chief of Air Service who was responsible for achieving the rebuild of the US Army Air Force in the 20's when Billy Mitchell was flying round dropping bombs and annoying the hell out of the War Department. [post=37811]Quoted post[/post] [/b] Also, he spent time with both Harris and the Staff of Bomber command
The greatest ? Dowding without question! Not only did he successfully fight the Battle of Britain, he also helped set up the defence system with which he fought the battle. My personal favourite, Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, leader of 11 Group during the Battle of Britain and AOC Malta in 1942 when the Luftwaffe air offensive on the Island was finally defeated.
The greatest ? Dowding without question! Not only did he successfully fight the Battle of Britain, he also helped set up the defence system with which he fought the battle. My personal favourite, Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, leader of 11 Group during the Battle of Britain and AOC Malta in 1942 when the Luftwaffe air offensive on the Island was finally defeated. F/L James 'Sandy' Sanders said Park was 'a great man.' Lord Tedder said that 'if ever one man won the Battle of Britain, then he did.' Park visited the airfields of 11 group and kept his pilots abreast of the big picture as well keeping his controllers informed of decisions made. He beat Kesselring not once but twice. I agree, and for me Keith Park was one of the greatest Commanders of the Second World War.
