Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader CBE, DSO,
DFC, Légion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre
(1) Background
(2) Return to the RAF
(3) Second World War
(4) A civilian once more
Background
Douglas Bader, a household name following the Second World War was an exceptional pilot and leader, upholding the strongest of British traditions, while a double leg amputee. 
Born on February 10, 1910, at the age of 13 he became interested in becoming a pilot in the Royal Air Force and was awarded one of six King's Cadetships to the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell in 1928. He was narrowly beaten into second place for the Sword of Honour when passing out of the College in 1930 and was posted to RAF Kenley where he honed his flying skills on the Bulldog fighter with 23 Squadron. By early 1931 he had gained a place in the Squadron's aerobatic team for the Paris Air Show.
On 14th December that year, Douglas Bader was to suffer a fate that would change his whole way of life. Following an excursion to Woodley airfield near Reading, the ever exuberant Bader was displaying his skills with a series of low rolls when the left wing of his Bulldog brushed the ground. In that split second of misjudgement the life of the twenty-one year old was transformed from that of a young man standing on the threshold of England rugby and possibly cricket honours, to one of facing life as a double amputee. The accident was to result in the amputation of Douglas's right leg above the knee and the left below the knee.
Bader never tried to find an excuse for the accident. In his flying logbook he later entered the simple account, 'X-country Reading. Crashed slow rolling near ground, bad show.' When quizzed in later life as to what had gone wrong, a philosophical Douglas, after a brief thought, merely stated 'Just made a b***s of it, old boy. That's all there is to it.' Having been informed by his doctors that he was doing remarkably well but should use 'sticks' as he would never walk without them, he retorted 'On the contrary, I will never b***dy well walk with them.' He never did.
Return to the RAF
Douglas was discharged from the Service but with the onset of the Second World War he recognised that it perhaps offered the opportunity of getting back in the air and joining the action. It was not easy and he had to be persistent, calling on a number of favours along the way. He was constantly being told 'there is nothing in King's Regulations allowing a man in his condition to fly,' but, as he was quick to point out, there was nothing in Kings Regulations to say a man in his condition could NOT fly. Eventually, due to the nation's overwhelming need for experienced pilots and with considerable support from those officers under whom Douglas had served in the early 1930s, the way was cleared and he was back where he considered he belonged.
In November, 1939, Douglas went to the Central Flying School at RAF Upavon for assessment. Although not having flown for seven years, after just a few hours of refresher training Douglas was flying solo in a Tutor and progressed quickly to the Battle, Master and Hurricane. His final course report read: 'This officer is an exceptionally good pilot.He is very keen and should be ideally suited.to single-seat fighters.' In the section headed 'Ability as a Pilot', the Officer Commanding Refresher Squadron wrote 'Exceptional'.
Second World War
By April 1940 Douglas was promoted, taking command of 'A' Flight of 222 Squadron, flying Spitfires. His skills as a pilot and his inspirational leadership qualities soon became well known throughout the Service and when, in June 1940, the totally demoralised Canadian 242 Squadron, a Hurricane unit, was withdrawn after the fall of France, Bader was quickly identified as the ideal candidate to take charge. Within a very short period of time Bader's leadership had transformed the Squadron. Group Captain Woodhall, Station Commander, RAF Duxford said '242 Squadron soon became an enthusiastic team led by their single-minded and swashbuckling OC Douglas Bader.'
Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley Milling, a young Pilot Officer at the time, remembered that 'Less than a month after he took command of the Squadron, morale was very high. Fear was ever present, of course, but Bader was afraid of nothing and through both example and constant encouragement he helped us all conquer our own anxieties'.
However even the seemingly indestructible Douglas Bader's luck ran out on 9th August 1941, when his Spitfire collided with a Luftwaffe Bf109 over France and Bader was captured and imprisoned for the remainder of the Second World War. His personal tally of 22.5 enemy aircraft was the fifth highest in the RAF. Despite confinement in a prisoner of war (POW) camp, Douglas eventually being transferred to Colditz, and his positive attitude towards escape and returning to action continued to inspire his fellow POWs. In April 1945 liberation arrived. Douglas came home but soon realised that there was now little place for him in the RAF. He rejoined the civilian ranks and carved himself a career as Managing Director of Shell Aircraft Operations, as well as serving on the Civil Aviation Authority.
A civilian once more
Back in civilian life, he soon realised that not only were many people in a similar position to himself but most were in less fortunate circumstances. Something had to be done to help and the tough-talking, no-nonsense Bader was the man to do it. Douglas Bader appreciated that he enjoyed an elevated position throughout the UK. His story was legendary and his direct attitude and forthright nature made people take note of what he said. He dedicated himself to improving the plight of disabled people everywhere and over the years supported and raised funds for countless charities and projects. In 1976, for his inspirational work for and amongst the disabled community, he was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen.
Douglas Bader and his wife Lady Joan, OBE, came to Cupar in 1982 to open the original Douglas Bader Garden for the disabled. Designed by George Craig, it was created by North East Fife District Council to commemorate the International Year of the Disabled. Despite his failing health, Sir Douglas drew a large audience who crowded into the small garden to catch a glimpse of the living legend. Sir Douglas knew Fife well, and he often referred to it as "God's own country." He had Scots blood through his mother, and was a regular visitor to St Andrews where he played countless rounds of golf over the famous Old Course. A single figure player, he travelled the globe with his clubs and played with many leading players such as Ben Hogan, who had an affinity with the RAF hero because of the crash which almost wrecked his own life. A few months after visiting Fife Sir Douglas sadly passed away.
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