Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding’s “No more fighters to France” letter to the Under Secretary of State for Air, 16 May 1940

Letter from Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding to the Under Secretary of State for Air, stressing the need to stop sending fighter aircraft to France to preserve resources to face attacks on Britain, 16 May 1940

The letter is indicative of the attitude within the senior staff of the Royal Air Force at the time. It asks that a minimum limit be set on the number of squadrons necessary to defend the United Kingdom. A request is made for it be policy that no further fighter aircraft be sent to France once the minimum limit is reached.