LF4804 WWII RAF PILOT (DOUGLAS R.S. BADER)

Douglas Bader (actually: Douglas Robert Steuart Bader) was born in February 1910 and died in September 1982. He was one of Britain's greatest WWII fighter aces with 21 air victories. The future ace became interested in aviation at the age of 13, when he could see the Avro 504 plane from close by. This youthful fascination resulted in joining the RAF in 1928, and therefore on Douglas's 18th birthday. In 1930, he was appointed a second lieutenant and was assigned to the 23rd Fighter Squadron. In 1931, he lost both legs as a result of an air crash. Rehabilitation took almost two years, and Bader was forced to learn to walk and function with prosthetic legs. However, in May 1933 - for health reasons - he was dismissed from the RAF. However, at the outbreak of World War II, Douglas Bader, despite his disability, returned to the RAF and was admitted. In January 1940, he was assigned to the 19th Squadron. He achieved his first aerial victories during the French campaign of May-June 1940. At the end of June 1940, he became the commander of the 242 Squadron. In the course of the Battle of Britain he did an excellent job, and for his service in that battle he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1941, Douglas Bader flew over France carrying out the so-called sweep actions. However, in early August 1941, he was shot down and was forced to land in German-controlled territory. There he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He remained in German captivity until 1945. After the war, he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and in 1946 he ended his military career.