The Battle of Britain Five Months That Changed History, May—October 1940 by James Holland (z-lib.org).epub

This did not make his position impregnable, however. During his long
career, Dowding had never been much interested in politicking and had no
qualms at all about arguing with those at the Air Ministry whenever he
thought it necessary. Quite single-mindedly he had pursued his task of
strengthening Fighter Command and Britain’s defences, encountering
endless hurdles of opposition as he had done so. This had made him some
notable enemies, and while his position had been safe during the frantic
scrabble to get Britain ready for war and again when the nation was facing
untold peril, it was not so secure the moment that threat diminished.
Park, too, despite his brilliance, was another interested only in winning
the war rather than playing any kind of political games. Throughout the
summer his mind had been fully occupied with the battle, of how to marshal
his forces correctly, and how to evolve tactics; he was not interested one jot
in the ambitions and jealousies of his fellow commander in 12 Group, or
about walking roughshod over Air Ministry red tape if it meant saving some
of his precious fighters.
This attitude was entirely understandable, but even in wartime office
politics plays its unattractive part. Slowly but surely, the movement to
remove both men was taking hold. Two of its architects were Leigh-
Mallory, the commander of 12 Group, and Air Marshal Sholto Douglas.
Brother of the more famous George – lost whilst attempting to climb
Everest in 1924 – Trafford Leigh-Mallory was a barrister by training, had
repeatedly proved his bravery as a soldier and then a pilot in the Great War,
and since then in his post-war career with the RAF had shown himself to be
an intelligent, energetic organizer, popular with his men, although less
popular with his commanders. He had no experience with fighters, however,
and Park, for one, had always thought him incompetent in his role as head
of 12 Group. He was also incredibly ambitious. Throughout the summer,
Leigh-Mallory had bristled with resentment at the way Park and 11 Group
were always given priority and seen as the senior Group in Fighter
Command. The concept of the big wing, however, put forward by Douglas
Bader, offered a means of getting his 12 Group more directly involved in
the battle. Furthermore, it was very obviously a different tactical approach
to anything Park had been trying. If it worked, then Leigh-Mallory would
be able to get one over his rival.
In Bader he had the perfect accomplice. This fearless fighter
commander was well known for having overcome horrific injuries, and with