Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
jj1982 said:Some of you may have heard about a chap call Douglas Bader. He was born in 1910 in london. His father died from a shrapnel wound in 1922. Douglas joined the RAF in 1928 having won his cadetship. He reported to Cranwell in Sept '28 and underwent his flight training. His superious did not like his rebellious attitude and was warneed that the RAF would'nt go on understanding. His flying improved dramaticlly and came in second to being awared the sword of honour.
After graduating in 1930, Bader was commisioned a piolet officer and was posted to 23 squadron at Kenly airfield (Just up the road from me actually) and was flying the gloster gamecock. The 23 squadron was latter eqquiped with the Bristol Bulldog Fighters where a stint of showing off with some aerobatics in a plane that he was inexpereinced in went horribly wrong. Bader flew too low in the bulldog, began a slow turn and clipped the ground with one of the wings. Baders right leg was was amputated above the knee and the left leg six inches below the knee.
After a long recovery Bader was transferred to the RAF hospital in Uxbridge in 1932. He was the first person to require two artificial legs from the Dessoutter brothers who made two legs out of light metal alloys...much the same as aluminium.
Soon he was driving a car, andhis thoughts returned to flying. In April 1933 he was retired on grounds of ill health.
In september 1939 Bader again applied to the RAf for flight duties and was helped by an old friend. I havent his name. He passed a flying test at the RAF's CFS in Ipavon.
In nov '30, Bader flew solo in an Avro Tudor K. He doon moved up into the fairey battle, then to the spitfires and finally got a chance inside a hurricane. In feb 1940, Bader joined 19squadron at Duxford (Visited many times with old friend Bronze, actually where i remember all about his from). At age 29 he was appointed flight commander in 222 squadron. He carelessly took off with his section with the spitfires propeller set to coarse pitch and crashed. He bent his legs. He admitted his mistake and was not reprimanded. Bader trained his 222 flight piliots in his own style of fighting. In June 1940 the squadron was sent to dunkirk to cover the evac. He Got his first kill here, M ME -109.
In June 1940, Bader was given command of 242 squadron, A candadian unit. The pilots were apprehensive about thier new legless leader, however Bader set out o prove them what he was made of and throughly impressed them by taking up a hurricane and displaying aerobatics for half an hour. (You would have thought he learnt his lesson first time round). The squadron was re-equipped with the necessaries to matain the planes they were flying. On August 30th, 242 squadron intercepted a group of 30 ferman bombers and fighters. Beteween them they claimed 11 kills, a respectful figure but bader said that if they had three or more squadrons attacking the huge german formation, all of the attackers would have been shot down. Thus, the "big Wing" concept was born.#
Bader led the wing into action for the first time on 7sept 1940 against a large german formation heading for london. However having scrambled too late, the wing was underneath the bombers and the figher escorts when they intersepted north of the Thames. All 242 and 310 could do was to attack as best they could whislt 19 squadron's spitfires held off the attacking Me-109's. The wing destroyed 11 aircraft with only two hurricanes shot down.
The Polish 302 hurricane squadron and the Auxiliarry 601 spitfire squadron was later added to the wing. The tactic worked hen on sept 5th 1940 Baders Duxford wing helped to break up a massed luftwaffe attack on London.
When the BoB ended, Bader was awared the DFC and DSO for gallantry and leadership of the highest order and became commander of the duxford Wing, which was later credited with destroying 152 german aircraft with the loss of only 30 pilots.
In march 1941, Bader now a wing commander left 242 and took over Tangmree Wing, consisiting of three spitfire squadrons, 145, 610 and 616, plus a Beaufighter squadron. The wing developed the finger four formation which later became standard throughout the RAF and AAF.
Whilst leading his wing over france on on August 9 1941, Bader suffered a mid air collison with a Me-109 and was captured by the germans. Hie spent most of the war in captivity including time and the castle Colditz for his escape efforts. Once released, he rushed to paris to demand a spitfire but permission was refused. His personal tally stood at 22.5 german aircraft!He returned to England and took command of of the essex secotr of 11th Group at North Weal. On September 15 he personally led the victory flypast of 300 RAF planes over london.
After leaving the RAF in late Feb 1946 Bader flew all over the world, visiteing services hospital. He was knighed in 1976 for his service to amputees "So many of whom he had helped and inspired by his example and character." On september 5th 1982 Douglas Bader died of a heart ataack..He was 72 years old.
"He became a legend at the first in the personification of RAF heroism during the Second World War"
jj1982 said:Adrian Warburton was on leave when he flew over Germany and dissapeared on the 12 of April, 1944. I am unsure whether or not this mystery has been solved, so Andrew, Please enlighten us with a tad more details.