DOWDING HUGH: (1882-1970) British Air Chief Marshal, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. ...

DOWDING HUGH: (1882-1970) British Air Chief Marshal, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. A good war date A.L.S., H. C. T. Dowding, two pages, 8vo, Wimbledon, London, 1st May 1943, to Lord Beaverbrook. Dowding thanks his correspondent for their letter, evidently in response to Dowding's references to his Spiritualist experiences, and comments 'I am sorry to have introduced an uncongenial subject: I am so very much interested myself in these matters that I am inclined to make the unwarrantable assumption that others will be equally interested. Please forgive me'. A letter of good content and association. Two file holes to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature, VG Max Aitken (1879-1964) 1st Baron Beaverbrook. Canadian-British newspaper publisher who served as Minister of Aircraft Production 1940-41. Dowding's interest in Spiritualism is well documented, however autograph letters on the subject are extremely rare (see also previous lot). At the time of the present letter Dowding was writing his first book on the subject, Many Mansions, and described meeting dead 'RAF boys' in his sleep - spirits who flew fighters from mountain-top runways made of light.