Greatest Air Battle: Dieppe, 19th August 1942

When Canadian troops and British Commandos made their famous "reconnaissance in force" against the harbour town of Dieppe on 19th August 1942, they were supported and protected by a large array of Royal Air Force aircraft. Air Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, AOC of Fighter Command's No 11 Group, was given command of the air operation and had at his disposal more squadrons than were available to ACM Hugh Dowding at any one time during the Battle of Britain two years previously. Norman Frank gives a detailed, blow-by-blow account of this day, which has become accepted as the one on which the Royal Air Force fought possibly its greatest air battle.