A Summer Bright and Terrible by David E. Fisher

Author:David E. Fisher [Fisher, David E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Military, History, World War II
ISBN: 9781582439211
Google: ELDFxl3ev9cC
Publisher: Counterpoint Press
Published: 2006-10-17T13:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

At the time of the Munich Agreement in 1938, Dowding had about half the fighter squadrons needed to defend England, and all were fitted with outmoded biplane fighters. He had neither radar, Spitfires, nor Hurricanes. One year later, when the war began, he had the beginnings of a comprehensive radar system set up, but as discussed earlier, it wasn’t yet operating properly. He had a few squadrons of Hurricanes, and the Spitfires were beginning to be produced. In the spring of 1940, Chamberlain, in nearly his last speech as Prime Minister, goaded Hitler for having “missed the bus,” for not having attacked when England was still unprepared. A few days later Hitler did attack, sweeping over France.

In the Battle of France, Dowding lost half his Hurricanes, and more were lost over Dunkirk, together with some of his hoarded Spitfires, which were first committed to action there. Then came another respite, shorter this time, during which more Hurris and Spits came off the production lines, more pilots were trained, and the worst of the radar glitches were fixed. When the Battle of Britain began, in that summer that was both too long and too short, too bright and too terrible, Dowding and his chicks were still not quite ready, but they were slowly getting there.

Just barely in the nick of time.

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