douglas bader hurricane v7467

Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DL (21 February 1910 – 5 September 1982) was a Royal Air Force flying ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 22 aerial victories, 4 shared victories, 6 probables, 1 shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged

Bader joined the RAF in 1928, and was commissioned in 1930. In December 1931, while attempting some aerobatics, he crashed and lost both his legs. He recovered, retook flight training, passed his check flights but was then medically discharged.

Douglas Bader returned to the RAF at the outbreak of war and was accepted as a pilot. He scored his first victories over Dunkirk during the Battle of France in 1940. He then took part in the Battle of Britain. In August 1941, Bader baled out over German-occupied France and was captured.