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WW2: RAF fighter pilot Douglas Bader and wife Patsy attending party. 29th May 1945
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WW2: RAF fighter pilot Douglas Bader and wife Patsy attending party. 29th May 1945
WW2: RAF fighter pilot Douglas Bader and wife Patsy attending party.
29th May 1945.
Bader was one of Britains greates heroes of WW2. He was an RAF pilot before the war but in December 1931 he almost lost his life. He was flying low over a military airfield when his wingtip caught the ground. Doctors had to amputate both his legs in order to save his life. Under the Kings Regulations it was the end of his flying career. He got a pair of artificial legs but the RAF turned down his request to rejoin so he went to work as a pilot for the Shell Oil Company. When England went to war with Germany the RAF was so short of pilots that they waived the regulations. From June 1940 to August 1941 the ace downed 22 German planes. All the while there was a warrant out for his arrest on speeding charges. As a Spitfire Squadron Commander Bader rewrote aerial combat. He introduced the tactic of flying at very high altitude and then thundering down on the Luftwaffe planes, guns blazing. He also proved that larger squadrons of Spitfires would be more effective. He was allowed to test this out and within a month his larger squadron downed 152 German bombers. Later in the war Bader was stationed in France. He attacked six German planes solo, got two of them but his plane was sliced in two by the propeller of a third. As he tried to bail out one of his legs caught and snapped in two. He was captured and taken to hospital where as an act of courtesy the Germans requested that the RAF parachute in a replacement leg for him. Back on two feet, he waited barely 48 hours before escaping. He was recaptured and sent to Germany
England
Media ID 21397168
© Mirrorpix
1945 Heroes Parties Prisoners Troops
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EDITORS COMMENTS
WW2: RAF fighter pilot Douglas Bader and wife Patsy attending party. 29th May 1945. In this photo print, we see the indomitable spirit of one of Britain's greatest heroes during World War II, Douglas Bader, alongside his devoted wife Patsy. The image captures a moment of respite as they attend a joyous gathering amidst the tumultuous backdrop of war-torn Europe. Bader's remarkable journey began long before this photograph was taken. In 1931, a devastating accident cost him both legs, shattering his dreams of being an RAF pilot. Undeterred by adversity, he acquired artificial limbs and sought to rejoin the Royal Air Force. Initially denied permission, fate intervened when the desperate need for skilled pilots led to his triumphant return in June 1940. As a Spitfire Squadron Commander, Bader revolutionized aerial combat tactics with audacious maneuvers at high altitudes followed by thunderous assaults on enemy planes. His leadership proved instrumental in establishing larger squadrons that effectively neutralized German bombers. However, tragedy struck again during a solo mission over France when his plane was catastrophically damaged mid-air. Despite sustaining severe injuries including another broken leg, Bader's unyielding determination remained unscathed as he endured capture by German forces. Remarkably resilient even in captivity, it is said that courtesy prevailed among adversaries as the Germans requested that the RAF parachute in a replacement leg for him while hospitalized. Swiftly recovering from surgery and equipped with renewed resolve within just two days' time, Bader orchestrated an audacious escape but was ultimately recaptured before reaching safety. This poignant print immortalizes not only Douglas Bader's extraordinary courage but also serves as a testament to love and resilience shared between him and his steadfast partner Patsy.
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