| Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command was formed in 1936 and Bentley Priory became its Headquarters. Work began immediately to install a temporary Filter Room and Operations Room, seen in this view, in the main building as the permanent underground structures for these would not be completed until March 1940. Bentley Priory was the nerve centre of RAF Fighter Command throughout the Battle, collating all data on incoming raids and passing it on to the relevant Groups. The actual despatching of intercepting fighter squadrons was carried out at Group level. Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding (April 24, 1882 – February 15, 1970) was based there for most of the time though his accommodation was outside in Stanmore. The Germans presumably never discovered the function of Bentley Priory as it was never attacked during the war. Fighter Command remained in residence until April 1968 when Fighter Command was merged with Bomber Command to form Strike Command and the new HQ was set up at High Wycombe, the Priory becoming the HQ of 11 Group within the new organisation. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0317.jpg |
| Image Size | 253.09 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1300 x 1006 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1940 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
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| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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