Trafford Leigh-Mallory

Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory KCB, DSO and Bar (11 July 1892 - 14 November 1944) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in World War II and the highest-ranking British officer to die in the war.

12 Group and the Battle of Britain

In spite of his lack of fighter experience Leigh-Mallory took command of 12 Group and proved an energetic organiser and leader. On 1 November 1938 he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal, one of the younger AVMs then serving in the RAF. He was greatly liked by his staff but his relations with his airfield station commanders was strained. It was said of him that he "never went for popularity but he always stuck up for his staff. He was madly ambitious but he never trimmed for the sake of ambition."

Related Topics:
1 November - 1938

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During the Battle of Britain Leigh-Mallory quarrelled with Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, the commander of 11 Group. He wanted his squadrons to be closely involved in action with the Luftwaffe, but Park, who was responsible for the defence of southeast England and London, complained that 12 Group was not doing enough protect the airfields in his area. Instead, Leigh-Mallory and Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader had devised a massed fighter formation known as the Big Wing which they used, with mixed success, to hunt German bomber formations.

Related Topics:
Battle of Britain - Keith Park - Luftwaffe - Douglas Bader - Big Wing

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In return, Leigh-Mallory was critical of the tactics of Park and Sir Hugh Dowding, head of Fighter Command, believing that not enough was being done to allow wing-sized formations to operate successfully. Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, the new chief of the air staff, agreed and wanted Dowding replaced. After the Battle of Britain was over Portal removed Keith Park and Hugh Dowding from their posts. Leigh-Mallory took over from Park as commander of 11 Group. As a beneficiary of the change in command Leigh-Mallory has, probably unjustly, been accused of forming a plot to overthrow Dowding.

Related Topics:
Hugh Dowding - Charles Portal

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