During World War II, the Battle of Britain witnessed the first-ever large-scale aerial campaign of war in history. The RAF, outnumbered by German Luftwaffe fighter and bomber planes, held off wave after wave of attacks. This time saw many British flying aces, including Douglas Bader, a unique pilot with a significant disability: he had no legs.
Bader joined the RAF in 1928 and graduated from the flying academy in 1930. However, he lost both his legs in a plane crash. Despite the doctors’ pessimism, he was fitted with artificial legs and transferred to RAF Uxbridge, where he learned to drive a racing car, play golf and tennis, and even dance. He was determined to prove his physicians wrong and fly again.
Although Bader was initially allowed to fly again, the RAF reversed their decision, citing that he was not covered by the King’s Regulations. Bader left the RAF and took a desk job at Shell. As tensions rose in Europe between 1937 and 1939, Bader repeatedly requested to re-join the RAF. Although he was allowed to re-join, the RAF believed they could not accommodate his disability in a piloting role, and he was only given a “ground job.”
Air Vice Marshall Halahan, who was in charge of RAF Cranwell while Bader was there, recommended that Bader be given the opportunity to enter the Central Flying School and demonstrate his abilities. During his training, Bader performed a daring stunt in his Avro tutor plane by flipping it upside down at 600 feet, but was able to stabilize the plane and avoid a crash. Bader excelled in the academy and was introduced to the new models of fighters, such as the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire, which he would later become famous for flying.
After being posted to No. 19 Squadron in 1940, Bader flew a Spitfire and primarily undertook convoy patrol missions during the Phony War. However, he was later transferred to No. 222 Squadron and participated in the Battle of France and the Dunkirk Evacuations. Bader played a role in protecting the British Navy during the evacuation of over 300,000 soldiers from French beaches. He was credited with taking down one Messerschmitt Bf 110, damaging another, and damaging a Heinkel He 111 bomber during the Battle of France. Bader was then appointed Commanding Officer of No. 242 Squadron, a Hawker Hurricane squadron comprised mostly of Canadian pilots who had suffered heavy losses and low morale during the Battle of France.
Initially, Bader’s new squadron was hesitant to accept him as their leader due to his disability. However, Bader soon realized that his disability was an advantage in combat. When performing sharp turns, pilots experience increased G-Forces which can cause them to blackout. Bader’s lack of legs meant he was less likely to blackout and could pull tighter turns and sharper maneuvers, allowing him to outfly his opponents. During the Battle of Britain, Bader and his squadron fought to establish aerial superiority over Britain and successfully repelled the Luftwaffe’s attempts to invade by air. This marked the first major prolonged aerial-only conflict in history.
During the Battle of Britain, Douglas Bader led his squadron in combat sorties and inspired them with his courage and skill. No. 242 Squadron saw fierce action and became a renowned fighting force, with Bader earning respect from his superiors and men. In their biggest fight of the battle, they engaged in heavy air combat, taking down 12 planes in total with Bader himself taking down two. By the end of the battle, Bader’s squadron had 65 confirmed kills for only 5 losses, and he was classified as an ace pilot. He received the Distinguished Service Order and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in September 1940.
On September 15, 1940, the Luftwaffe launched an all-out attack on London, and Bader flew several different missions that day, shooting down a Dornier Do 17 bomber and damaging others. He was promoted to acting Wing Commander in March 1941 and became one of the RAF’s first Wing Leaders, leading his Spitfires on sweeps and escort missions over Europe and the British Channel during the summer campaign of 1941. As Wing Leader, his Spitfire’s nose was adorned with his initials “D-B,” and he was known as “Dogsbody.” Bader shot down over 10 more aircraft during the summer campaign, bringing his total to over 20 downed aircraft throughout the war.
On August 9, 1941, Bader and four other Spitfires were flying over the English Channel when he spotted twelve Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. He engaged in heavy air combat and took down two of the enemy planes before colliding with one of them mid-air. He jettisoned the cockpit canopy and released his harness pin, but one of his prosthetic legs got stuck, causing him to be sucked out of the cockpit.
Douglas Bader, a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot during World War II, fell from his plane with his false leg still attached. He managed to release his parachute, but the momentum caused the retaining strap on his leg to snap, and he fell into the sea. He was captured by the Germans and became a prisoner of war (POW). Despite being a POW, Bader was treated with respect by his captors, and Luftwaffe General Adolf Galland visited him often. Galland even arranged for the RAF to drop a replacement prosthetic leg for Bader via the “Leg Operation.” After the war, Bader continued to serve in the RAF for a short time before retiring and campaigning for disabled rights. He was knighted in 1976 and passed away in 1982 at the age of 72.
FAQ
1. Who was the World War II ace pilot with no legs?
The ace pilot with no legs was Douglas Bader, a British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot who flew during World War II.
2. How did Douglas Bader lose his legs?
Douglas Bader lost both of his legs in a flying accident in 1931. He crashed his plane while performing aerobatic maneuvers and had to have both of his legs amputated above the knee.
3. How did Douglas Bader continue to fly planes after losing his legs?
Douglas Bader continued to fly planes after losing his legs by using artificial legs and special modifications made to his plane. He had prosthetic legs fitted with metal plates that allowed him to operate the plane’s rudder pedals, and his plane was modified with extra controls that he could operate with his hands.
4. How many planes did Douglas Bader shoot down during World War II?
Douglas Bader is credited with shooting down 22 enemy planes during World War II, making him one of the top scoring RAF fighter pilots of the war.
5. Was Douglas Bader ever captured by the enemy?
Yes, Douglas Bader was captured by the enemy twice during World War II. He was first captured in 1941 after his plane was shot down over German-occupied France, and he spent the next three and a half years as a prisoner of war. He was later freed by Allied forces in 1945, but was captured again by Soviet forces after accidentally flying into their airspace. He was eventually released and returned to Britain.
6. Did Douglas Bader continue to fly after World War II?
Yes, Douglas Bader continued to fly after World War II and became a test pilot for the aircraft company Folland. He later worked as a motivational speaker and wrote several books about his experiences as a pilot.
7. What was Douglas Bader’s legacy?
Douglas Bader is remembered as a brave and determined pilot who overcame tremendous obstacles to become one of the top fighter pilots of World War II. He inspired many people with disabilities to pursue their dreams and showed that anything is possible with hard work and determination.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.