Would Dowding Have Been A Better CAS Than Newall?

And if he had become CAS when Ellington retired, who would have replaced Dowding as AOC-in-C Fighter Command?

Courtney was supposed to replace Dowding in 1939 (but I think he was taken ill), so whether he would have been the man for it earlier - maybe.

The other option to him becoming CAS is if he replaced Newall in 1940! As it was Portal was promoted perhaps with unseemly haste, probably at the behest of Trenchard and Salmond - out of fear that Churchill would go for Dowding!

Freeman, was the other obvious alternative, but his 'personal life' history prevented getting the top job.

Considering the Park/Leigh-Mallory conflict that festered, Dowding may not have been as decisive at dealing with issues as he could be, but on the other hand don't think he would take to 'brown-nosing'!
 
Courtney was supposed to replace Dowding in 1939 (but I think he was taken ill), so whether he would have been the man for it earlier - maybe.

The other option to him becoming CAS is if he replaced Newall in 1940! As it was Portal was promoted perhaps with unseemly haste, probably at the behest of Trenchard and Salmond - out of fear that Churchill would go for Dowding!

Freeman, was the other obvious alternative, but his 'personal life' history prevented getting the top job.

Considering the Park/Leigh-Mallory conflict that festered, Dowding may not have been as decisive at dealing with issues as he could be, but on the other hand don't think he would take to 'brown-nosing'!

If Dowding had become CAS instead of Portal, would Park have succeeded him at Fighter Command instead of Sholto-Douglas? Would Leigh-Mallory still have been moved from 12 Group to 11 Group?
 
If Dowding had become CAS instead of Portal, would Park have succeeded him at Fighter Command instead of Sholto-Douglas? Would Leigh-Mallory still have been moved from 12 Group to 11 Group?

It's hard to guessestimate who would have got what here, however IMHO LM would not get 11 Group, Park get Fighter Command - maybe - it's a big step up. But what to do with the ambitious SD - ah a thought - send him to the US (i.e. the mission that OTL Dowding was assigned).
 
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