Douglas Bader

NAME: Douglas Bader

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Douglas Bader was famous for his remarkable achievements as a World War II fighter pilot, particularly for his incredible flying skills despite having lost both his legs in an aviation accident before the war.

BIRTH: Douglas Robert Steuart Bader was born on February 21, 1910, in St John's Wood, London, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Bader came from a middle-class family with no significant military background. He was the son of Frederick Charles Bader, a London stockbroker, and Jessie Doris Grant.

CHILDHOOD: Active and adventurous, Douglas enjoyed sports and tinkering with machinery.

Bader's father died in 1922 and his mother  remarried shortly thereafter to the Reverend Ernest William Hobbs. Bader was subsequently brought up in the rectory of the village of Sprotbrough, near Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire. 

Douglas Bader wasn't exactly born with a flying helmet on his head. In fact, his introduction to airplanes at the tender age of 13, courtesy of a visit to his aunt who was marrying an RAF bloke, wasn't exactly a "Eureka!" moment. Sure, there was a plane – an Avro 504, a bit of a lumbering beast by modern standards – but young Bader didn't exactly set the tarmac alight with pilot-y passion.

EDUCATION: Bader attended Temple Grove School, and St. Edward's School, an English public school in Oxford, England, 

As time went by Bader was more and more drawn to flying. In 1928, Bader joined the RAF as an officer cadet at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in rural Lincolnshire. Now, let's just say academics weren't exactly his strong suit. He scraped by his exams, coming in a rather uninspiring 19th out of 21. But hey, at least he could finally take to the skies for real. His first flight with an instructor was about as thrilling as watching paint dry, but eventually, Bader soloed after a respectable (if not earth-shattering) 11 hours of flight time.

Motorcycling was tolerated at Cranwell, though cadets usually took part in banned activities such as speeding, pillion racing, and buying and racing motor cars. Bader was involved in these activities and was close to expulsion after being caught out too often.

CAREER RECORD: Bader joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1928 and became a pilot. Despite losing both legs in a flying accident in 1931, he returned to flying and became one of the RAF's top flying aces during World War II. Here's his resume:

1930 - Commissioned as a pilot officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF)

1931 - Lost both legs in a flying accident

1939 - Regained his pilot's license and rejoined the RAF despite his disability

1940 - Shot down over Dunkirk, captured by Germans and became a POW

1941 - Escaped from a POW camp but was recaptured

1945 - Liberated by Allied forces

1946 - Retired from the RAF with the rank of Group Captain

APPEARANCE: Bader was described as tall, athletic, and handsome, with a confident demeanor. He used prosthetic legs after the accident. 

Douglas Bader in 1955. By Ragge Strand - National Archives of Norway,

FASHION: As a military officer, Bader wore the standard uniform of the RAF, which included a flying suit while on duty.

CHARACTER: Bader was known for his determination, resilience, and fearlessness in the face of adversity. He had a strong sense of duty and loyalty to his country.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Despite his challenges, Bader had a sharp wit and maintained a positive attitude, often cracking jokes to lift the spirits of those around him.

RELATIONSHIPS: During his convalescence after losing his legs, he met and fell in love with Thelma Edwards, a waitress at a tea room called the Pantiles on the A30 London Road in Bagshot, Surrey They married on October 5, 1933.

After a long illness, Thelma died of throat cancer on January 24, 1971,  aged 64. 

On January 3, 1973, Bader married Joan Murray (née Hipkiss); the daughter of a steel tycoon. 

Bader had strong bonds with his fellow pilots and RAF colleagues, earning their respect through his leadership and bravery.

MONEY AND FAME: Bader became a national hero in Britain due to his remarkable flying exploits during World War II. However, he did not seek fame or fortune and remained humble about his achievements.

FOOD AND DRINK: Details about his personal preferences in food and drink are not extensively recorded.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Bader's primary interests lay in aviation and military matters, rather than music and the arts.

LITERATURE: While he did not have a notable literary career, Bader's autobiography, Reach for the Sky, became a bestseller and inspired many.

NATURE: Bader had a deep appreciation for the freedom of flight and the beauty of the skies, which he often expressed in his writings.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Flying was Bader's greatest passion and also his primary hobby. He was an accomplished sportsman before his accident, enjoying rugby and golf.

Bader was selected for the Royal Air Force cricket team to play a first-class match against the Army at The Oval in July 1931. He scored 65 and 1. He did not show much interest in pursuing the sport as he preferred rugby.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Bader's expertise lay in aviation rather than formal science or mathematics, although he had a deep understanding of aerodynamics and aircraft mechanics.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Bader's philosophy revolved around determination, courage, and the importance of never giving up, which he demonstrated throughout his life.

SCANDAL: There are no major scandals associated with Bader's life.

MILITARY RECORD: Bader's military record is exemplary, having been credited with shooting down at least 22 enemy aircraft during World War II.

Douglas Bader was commissioned as a pilot officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) on July 26, 1930, and he was posted to No. 23 Squadron RAF, which was based at Kenley, Surrey. He lost both legs after a flying accident in 1931, but Bader was made of some seriously tough stuff. He wasn't about to let a little thing like missing limbs clip his wings (so to speak). He learned to fly again with the help of prosthetic legs, a feat that would make most of us mere mortals boggle. And when World War II rolled around, Bader, with his steely determination and a pair of trusty metal legs, was back in the RAF, ready to mix it up with the Luftwaffe.

He even managed to snag a promotion and command of his own squadron. On August 30, 1940, Douglas Bader's 242 Squadron flew their first sortie of the Battle of Britain. In just over an hour, they shot down 12 German planes over the Channel. Bader himself was credited with downing two Messerschmitt 110s – not bad for a chap who technically couldn't feel his feet!

There's a funny little side note here. Back then, fighter pilots often blacked out during intense maneuvers because the G-forces would mess with the blood flow in their legs. Well, Bader, bless his heart, didn't have that problem. No legs, no blackout!

But fate had another twist in store. In 1941, Bader was shot down over France and captured. He even lost one of his prosthetic legs in the whole kerfuffle. The Germans, in a surprisingly decent move, actually radioed the Brits and requested a replacement leg, which they obligingly dropped by parachute. Once Bader was back on his (metal) feet, he, of course, tried to escape a few times, which resulted in the Germans taking away his precious legs at night – a bit of a low blow, even for wartime!

Bader eventually ended up in the notorious Colditz Castle POW camp, where he remained until the war's end. Despite all the challenges he faced, Bader racked up an impressive 20 confirmed victories and a whole bunch of probables.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Disaster struck in 1931. Bader, ever the daredevil (or maybe just a bit reckless), attempted some fancy low-flying aerobatics that went about as well as a penguin trying ballet. The plane clipped the ground, and the outcome was grim – both his legs needed to be amputated.

Bader's response in his logbook after the whole ordeal? A stoic "Crashed slow-rolling near ground. Bad show." Talk about understatement!

Despite losing both legs, Bader remained physically fit and continued to fly fighter aircraft with the aid of prosthetic limbs.

HOMES: Due to his career in the Royal Air Force, Douglas Bader lived in various locations throughout England. Specific details might be limited, but here's a general idea:

Early Life: Likely spent his childhood in his family home in St John's Wood, London.

Education: Lived at boarding schools like St. Edward's in Oxford and Cranwell RAF College.

RAF Service: Stationed at various RAF bases throughout his career, with no single permanent residence.

TRAVEL: Douglas Bader took his first flight on September 13, 1928, with his instructor, Flying Officer W. J. "Pissy" Pearson, in an Avro 504. After accumulating just 11 hours and 15 minutes of flight time, he completed his first solo flight on February 19, 1929.

Bader's wartime experiences involved extensive travel across Europe:

Pre-War Training: Possible training flights across Europe depending on his assigned bases.

World War II: Combat missions would have taken him over France, Belgium, and potentially other occupied territories.

Prisoner of War: Transferred between various POW camps in Germany.

DEATH: On September 5, 1982, after a dinner honoring Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris at the Guildhall, Bader died of a heart attack while on his way home. He was 72.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Bader's remarkable story has been captured in several media formats:

Film: The most famous portrayal is the 1956 film Reach for the Sky, based on Bader's autobiography.

When Reach For The Sky was released, people associated Bader with the quiet, and amiable personality of actor Kenneth More who played Bader in the movie. Bader recognized the producers had deleted all those habits he displayed when on operations, particularly his prolific use of bad language.

Documentaries: Documentaries about World War II aviation or focusing specifically on the stories of aces and POWs might feature Bader.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Bader's achievements go beyond his flying record:

World War II Flying Ace: Despite his disability, he became a flying ace with 22 confirmed aerial victories.

Overcoming Adversity: His determination to fly again and his resilience throughout his life serve as an inspiration for many.

Disability Advocacy: Bader became a champion for people with disabilities, promoting inclusion and challenging perception