An air commander who made army cooperation central to Allied air power
Trafford Leigh-Mallory was a British air chief marshal whose command style grew from First World War experience in reconnaissance and cooperation with ground forces. During the Battle of Britain, he advocated large fighter formations against the quicker defensive methods of Hugh Dowding and Keith Park, and the dispute became entangled with changes in Fighter Command leadership. As commander-in-chief of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force for Overlord, he coordinated the air plan to delay German reinforcements and disrupt transport, while accepting the grave civilian costs of attacks in France. After Normandy he was appointed to command air forces in Southeast Asia, but died with his wife in a plane crash in the French Alps.
Career Timeline
- 1916Pilot, No. 7 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
- 1917–1918Commanding officer, No. 8 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
- 1937–1940Air Officer Commanding, No. 12 (Fighter) Group
- 1940–1942Air Officer Commanding, No. 11 (Fighter) Group
- 1942–1943Commander-in-Chief, RAF Fighter Command
- 1943–1944Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force, Overlord
- 1944Designated Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia Command