Patrols were flown over France from 20 May 1940 and the squadron covered the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk. On 24 May Pilot Officer Dowding probably destroyed a Do 17 and a Ju 88 and on the 27th he destroyed a Do 17 after chasing it for 20 miles into France and coming under intense anti-aircraft fire.
On 6 July 1940 Dowding damaged a He 111 and two days later he shared in the destruction of another. He was posted away to 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge on 6 August, to be an instructor.
In 1941 he became a Flight Commander with No 135 Squadron. He served as a test pilot in the Middle East from 1942 to 1945 and retired from the RAF on 17 November 1956, as a Wing Commander. On 15 February 1970 he became the second Baron Dowding on the death of his father.
Derek Dowding died on 22 November 1992
