2011

HM Armed Forces

RAF Officer Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DL (21 February 1910 – 5 September 1982) was a highly decorated Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Second World War. He's celebrated for his leadership and courage despite significant disability.

Losing both legs in a pre-war flying accident, Bader defied medical expectations and service regulations to return to flying duties at the outbreak of war. He relentlessly fought to prove his capability, eventually convincing the RAF to reinstate him.

Bader excelled as a pilot and tactician, becoming a Wing Commander and leading squadrons in the Battle of Britain and subsequent offensive operations over Europe. His aggressive style and inspirational leadership made him a popular and effective commander.

Shot down and captured in 1941, Bader spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war, repeatedly attempting to escape. He remained a symbol of British defiance and resilience. Post-war, he became a motivational speaker and campaigner for the disabled.