Uniform Jacket of Baron Dowding of Bentley Priory

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was Air Officer Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. This jacket is typical of those worn by officers in 1940 and bears Sir Hugh Dowding’s medal ribbons, pilot’s brevet and rank tapes. It was bequeathed to the Museum after his death in 1970.

The jacket is the 1920 Officers’ Pattern, No. 1 official service dress. It is a single-breasted, four button jacket with roll-step collar, two flap and button, pleated breast pockets, two flap and button bellows pockets in the skirt and has a centre rear vent. There is an integral fabric belt with a two-prong gilt buckle. The black and blue rank lace on the sleeve indicate the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The Dowding System, created by Sir Hugh, was the first integrated air defence system, linking the means of detection to the defence forces. It also provided a clear method of communicating the information to all concerned, linking Fighter, Balloon and Anti-Aircraft Commands.