BADER'S HURRICANES

Double amputee fighter ace Douglas Bader and his Battle of Britain Hurricanes

- CLIVE ROWLEY

Douglas Bader was one of the Royal Air Force's best-known fighter aces of World War II, during which he became a national hero in Britain. He is, perhaps, one of the most famous RAF pilots ever, and his story is well known to aviation enthusiasts. Having lost both his legs in a flying accident prior to the war, he managed to return to flying status and was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six "probables," one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged, before he was brought down and forced to bail out of his Spitfire over enemy territory in August 1941, spending the remainder of the war as a troublesome POW.

Despite being an undisputed hero and an inspiration to many, the determined, dogmatic, stubborn and fearless Bader remains a controversial character who divides opinions. His personality was undoubtedly formed by his background and, not least, by having to overcome the severest of disabilities and adversities as a young man. He had great charisma and charm, but he could be abrasive, over-bearing, and downright rude on occasion. Some saw him as arrogant, cocky, outspoken, selfish, and impatient. He was intransigent and did not take kindly to any disagreement with his own strongly held opinions. What cannot be questioned though is his record as a proven and inspirational wartime leader, both on the ground and in the air, and also that he possessed enormous guts, fierce determination, and great fighting spirit.