What was the Dowding System?

The Dowding System was Britain's integrated air defence system during WWII. The system combined intelligence information and radar to organise defences like anti-aircraft guns and fighter squadrons against incoming enemy aircraft.

Who was Dowding in WW2?

Hugh Dowding was a Royal Air Force air chief marshal who famously led Fighter Command, created the Dowding System, and won the Battle of Britain against Germany in 1940.

How did the Dowding System work?

The Dowding System of air defence worked by having information from radar and observers come to a central HQ, which was then processed and redistributed to fighter squadrons, anti-aircraft gun units, and Air Raid Protection wardens where the enemy aircraft were headed.

Dowding System

Server Costs Fundraiser 2024

Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.

$3926 / $18000

❤ Donate

Definition

Britain's integrated air defence system in the Second World War (1939-45), known as the Dowding System after the air chief marshal of that name, included code-breakers, radar stations, observers, searchlights, barrage balloons, anti-aircraft guns, and fighter planes. Working together through a combined operations centre, these various elements ensured that the German Air Force could be better tracked and intercepted, and so, the Dowding System helped win the Battle of Britain.

More about: Dowding System

Timeline

1940 - 1941
The Dowding System of integrated air defence is in operation protecting Britain against German air attacks.