Hugh Caswall Dowding nicknamed (STUFFY).
An artillery officer by training, Dowding transferred to the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. Between 1930 and 1936 he was a research and development member of the Air Council, the governing body of the Royal Air Force. Here, he oversaw the development of the Spitfire and Hurricane interceptors and the early experimentation with radar
During the Battle of Britain Dowding was criticized by Air Vice Marshal William Sholto Douglas, assistant chief of air staff, and Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, for not being aggressive enough. Douglas took the view that RAF fighters should be sent out to meet the German planes before they reached Britain. Dowding rejected this strategy as being too dangerous and argued it would increase the number of pilots being killed.
Dowding was credited with winning the Battle of Britain and was awarded the Knight Grand Cross. His old adversary, Hugh Trenchard, also told him that he had been guilty of gravely underestimating him for 26 years.
