Bader’s War: ‘Have A Go At Everything

Click here to read an article featured in the Daily Express 17th February 2010
http://dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/158680/Bader-a-flawed-hero

A quarter of a century after his death, Douglas Bader remains the most famous fighter pilot that Britain has ever known. He lost both of his legs in a flying accident in 1931, but overcame his disability and returned to the RAF in 1939 to command the Canadian Fighter Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Held as a prisoner of war at several German camps, including the infamous Colditz Castle, he made numerous escape attempts, becoming such an aggravation that his captors were forced to confiscate his tin legs. Such was his fame on his return to England that his autobiography sold 100,000 copies upon publication, and the hugely successful film about his life Reach for the Sky, starring Kenneth More, further popularised the legend. While he had as many flaws as laudable qualities, Bader undeniably achieved great things, both during the Second World War and in his later work for disabled charities. Bader’s War makes use of new memoirs, interviews and documents that have only recently become available, and which help shed further light on various episodes in his life, providing an unbiased portrayal of this fascinating man.