Charles Portal (21 May 1893 - 22 Apr. 1971)
Charles Portal became acting Air Marshal at the outbreak of war in 1939 and became Commander in Chief of Bomber Command in April of 1940. Like Harris, Portal believed in area bombing against industrial centres in Germany. In August 1940, he gave commands to bomb Berlin, which led directly to the reprisal Blitz.
In October, Portal became Chief of the Air Staff, which he continued in until the end of the war. In his capacity he improved navigation systems for bombers, bombing aids and increased the potential of the bombs. When he wanted to implement night-time raids he appointed Harris as Air Chief Marshal.
Being a high-ranked officer, he was often seen at conferences, such as Casablanca and Yalta, impressing his Allied peers. At Casablanca he was chosen to coordinate Allied bombing in Germany. 1944 saw Portal promoted again to Marshal of the Royal Air Force, and that year also saw Portal’s strategy change. Portal’s area bombing strategy was finally brought to an end following Dresden and Portal retired at the end of the war.
For more information on Charles Portal:
Richards, Denis. Portal of Hungerford: The Life of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Viscount Portal of Hungerford (London: Heinemann), 1978.
In October, Portal became Chief of the Air Staff, which he continued in until the end of the war. In his capacity he improved navigation systems for bombers, bombing aids and increased the potential of the bombs. When he wanted to implement night-time raids he appointed Harris as Air Chief Marshal.
Being a high-ranked officer, he was often seen at conferences, such as Casablanca and Yalta, impressing his Allied peers. At Casablanca he was chosen to coordinate Allied bombing in Germany. 1944 saw Portal promoted again to Marshal of the Royal Air Force, and that year also saw Portal’s strategy change. Portal’s area bombing strategy was finally brought to an end following Dresden and Portal retired at the end of the war.
For more information on Charles Portal:
Richards, Denis. Portal of Hungerford: The Life of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Viscount Portal of Hungerford (London: Heinemann), 1978.