History
RAF Fighter Command
Fighter Command was one of three functional commands 鈥 along with Bomber Command and Coastal Command 鈥 of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft.
Photo: Air Vice Marshall Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory (centre), Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, with his staff in April 1943. (Popperfoto/Getty Images)
Features in:
Introduction
RAF Fighter Command
Highlights from 麻豆社 programmes Video (6)
The events of the 15th September.
From the Fighter Command control room in Uxbridge, Richard Holmes describes the RAF attacks on incoming German bombers.
Churchill's role in the Battle of Britain
Mo Mowlam MP describes the Battle of Britain and Churchill's intimate involvement in the day-to-day running of the air campaign.
Andrew Marr reveals the origin of a famous Churchill phrase
Andrew Marr reveals the origin of Churchill鈥檚 famous phrase, 鈥淣ever in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few鈥, and how RAF Fighter Command repulsed attacks by the Luftwaffe.
Eyewitnesses describe the battles over the Channel
Frank Scrivener, a resident of Dover, remembers the excitement of watching the dogfights over the Channel. Edith Heap, a ground control technician from the Women's Auxillary Air Force, describes the intensity of hearing the pilots' commentary during the battles.
A pilot remembers the approach of the bombers
Bob Dole, a Spitfire pilot, describes the tactics for attacking the approaching Nazi bombers. Marian Holmes, a Downing Street secretary, recalls the fear that the German bombs caused.
More information about: RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War. It earned great fame during the Battle of Britain, when the Few held off the Luftwaffe attack on Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when it was disbanded. The RAF fighter force was split into two categories; defence and attack. The defensive force became Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) and the offensive force became the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. The Air Defence of Great Britain was later renamed Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded in 1968.
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Events
Germany bombs British coastal airfields
Germany attacks RAF Fighter Command
Battle of Britain Day
Who
People
Hugh Dowding What
Speeches
The Few Military Tactics
Dogfight Military Technology
Supermarine Spitfire 
Radar Military Organisations
Luftwaffe Where
Military airfields
RAF Biggin Hill Related programmes
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BROADCAST 2009 -
play
BROADCAST 2008
Radio 4: WW2 Defences
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BROADCAST 2009 -
BROADCAST 2010