As Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding played a critical part in saving Britain from invasion by the Nazis in 1940.
After serving in the British Army, Lord Dowding joined the Royal Flying Corps at the start of the First World War and later became commanding officer of No 16 Squadron.
In July 1936 he was appointed commanding officer of the newly created RAF Fighter Command and spearheaded the development of the air defence system that gave the RAF a major advantage during the Battle of Britain.
As the RAF Association marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a tribute has been made to Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding with the installation of a replica Spitfire PT462 and bronze bust of Lord Dowding in the grounds of Dowding House, the RAF Association’s retirement complex in Moffat, Scotland.
This bronze bust, created by sculptor Faith Winter, has been placed alongside a replica of Spitfire PT462, similar to the fighters that played such a huge part in the Battle of Britain, in front of Dowding House, the childhood home of Lord Dowding.
Spitfire PT462 was installed in the gardens alongside a bronze bust of Lord Dowding thanks to the work of the Moffat Spitfire Project, the RAF Association and local authorities.
