Bader Way

In honour of : Douglas Bader

Full Real Name : Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DL, FRAeS

Born in St John's Wood, London on 21st February 1910

Died in Chiswick, London on 5th September 1982

At the age of 13 Bader got his first taste of airplanes when he was visiting his aunt during a school holiday and was shown an Avro 504.

He joined the RAF as an Officer Cadet at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire in 1928 and on 13th September had his first flight in an Avro 504.  He flew Solo on 19th February the following year after only 11 hours and 15 minutes of flight time.

Bader was then commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 26th July 1930 into No 23 Squadron based at Kenley, Surrey.

He flew Gloster Gamecocks and Bristol Bulldogs and was often found to be flying dangerous and illegal stunts at low level against strict orders.

Unfortunately, on 14th December 1931 he pushed his luck too far and whilst attempting some low-level aerobatics in a Bulldog Mk IIA (K1676) he crashed.  He was rushed to hospital where both his legs were amputated - one above and one below the knee.

His convalescence was long and painful but his determination paid off and with his pair of artificial legs he was eventually able to play golf and even dance.  He had a specially modified car and whilst visiting a tea room not far from the hospital at RAF Uxbridge he met and fell in love with his future wife.

In spite of competently flying an Avro 504 and passing a medical examination in June 1932 he was invalided out of the RAF in May 1933.

After numerous requests by Bader to be accepted back into the RAF it wasn't until October 1939, on the endorsement of Air Vice-Marshal Halahan that the Central Flying School asked Bader to report for flight tests.

At the end of November his persistence paid off and after refresher courses and medical examinations he was given full flying status and posted to the Central Flying School where on the 29th in an Avro Tutor he flew solo for the first time in the eight years since his accident.

In January 1940 he was posted to No 19 Squadron RAF at RAF Duxford near Cambridge where he practiced formation flying and tactics and was quickly promoted to Section Leader.  He had very different ideas on aerial combat from those in charge which were not called on.

Whilst flying a Spitfire in this period he crashed it on the runway during take off.  It was only later on he realised that in the crash he had seriously damaged both his artificial legs - if they had been his real legs he would certainly have had to have them amputated.

He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and appointed Flight Commander of No 222 Squadron RAF, still based at RAF Duxford.

During May 1940 the RAF were providing air cover for the Royal Navy during Operation Dynamo and on 1st June whilst patrolling near Dunkirk Bader was credited with shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and damaging a Messerschmitt Bf 110.

Not long afterwards on 28th June he was posted at Acting Squadron Leader to No 242 Squadron RAF, a Hawker Hurricane squadron based at RAF Coltishall.

***** Bit about the sqdn *****

Bader scored his first victory with this squadron on 11th July shooting down a Dornier Do 17 which crashed into the sea off Cromer. 

On the 14th September he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO):

This officer had displayed, gallantry and leadership of the highest order. During three recent engagements he has led his squadron with such skill and ability that thirty-three enemy aircraft have been destroyed. In the course of these engagements Squadron Leader Bader had added to his previous successes by destroying six enemy aircraft

London Gazette

At the rank of Flight Lieutenant Bader became a huge supporter of the very controversial "Big Wing" initiated by Leigh-Mallory which often did not provide support in time for the over-stretched 11 Group.

As an Acting Squadron Leader Bader was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 12th December 1940:

Squadron Leader Bader has continued to lead his squadron and wing with the utmost gallantry on all occasions. He has now destroyed a total of ten hostile aircraft and damaged several more.

London Gazette

Bader became one of the first "Wing Leaders", having been promoted to acting Wing Commander on 18th March 1941, with 145, 610 and 616 Squadrons under his command at Tangmere.  One of the 'perks' of a Wing Leader was having his aircraft identified with his initials.  Bader's Spitfire was consequently painted "D-B" from which his radio call-sign became "Dogsbody".

On 2nd July 1941 Bader was awarded a Bar to his DSO:

This officer has led his wing on a series of consistently successful sorties over enemy territory during the past three months.  His high qualities of leadership and courage have been an inspiration to all.  Wing Commander Bader has destroyed 15 hostile aircraft.

London Gazette

On 9th September 1941 Bader was awarded a Bar to his DFC:

The fearless pilot has recently added a further four enemy aircraft to his previous successes; in addition he has probably destroyed another four and damaged five hostile aircraft.  By his fine leadership and high courage Wing Commander Bader has inspired the wing on every occasion.

London Gazette


In spite of the fact that his Wing was exhausted Bader pushed for more and more sorties so that he could allegedly add to his score.  No-one would refuse him and between 24th March and 9th August he flew 62 sweeps over France.

Unfortunately on 9th August, without his trusted wingman and some reckless flying on his part, Bader was shot down (allegedly by 'friendly fire') and captured by the Germans.  He was treated with a huge amount of respect by them and when discharged from one of their hospitals he was even given a tour of a local airfield but although he was invited to sit in Galland's own Me109 he was refused a "flight around the airfield".

When Bader had bailed out of his Mk VA Spitfire (W3185) he lost one of his prosthetic legs. Goring himself gave the British permission to drop a new leg in by parachute however the British took advantage of this opportunity and having dropped the leg off at St Omer they cheekily flew on to bomb a power station.

With the help of a French maid at the hospital Bader managed to escape but another woman at the hospital informed the Germans and he was recaptured.  The maid and the couple who helped him were sent to carry out forced labour in Germany.  The informer was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the French authorities once the war was over.

Bader made many attempts at escaping and became a thorough nuisance to the Germans so in August 1942 he was sent to the 'escape-proof' Colditz Castle.  He remained there until it was liberated by the First United States Army on 15th April 1945.

It is believed that he was successful as a fighter pilot in part due to having no legs; when a pilot pulls high g-forces the blood in his body drains from the brain to other parts of his body - usually the legs.  As Bader had no legs he was able to remain conscious longer.

During his time in the RAF in WWII Bader was credited with 22 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.



References:

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/douglas-bader-fighter-pilot.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Bader