Life of Douglas Bader - a case study for " Foot Prints of Success "

" Reach For Sky " - the Life story of Douglas Bader :-
I wrote about ' Foot Prints for Success ' on March 17, 2007. It will be fitting to follow the essay with a real life case history. Douglas Bader's life is an example of courage and conviction. " Reach for Sky " is an apt title of the best seller. A film with the same title was released in 1956 starring Kenneth More, followed by a popular TV Serial. I presume this introduction is good enough to create an interest in you as well as in me to continue, though, many would be aware of Douglas Bader's biography.

Douglas Bader was born on Feb 21 in the year 1910. Very early in his life , he lost his father. He was then 12 years only. He evinced interest at the young age of 18, to join the Royal College of Airforce, but his mother declined on the grounds of ' no money'
Hard work earned Bader a cadet ship. He flew solo within a few hours of instructions. He excelled in sports , especially Golf.

He was posted as a fighter Pilot at Kenly where he showed immense progress. Alas ! a tragic accident, he met with when he was 21. On Dec 14, 1931, when he took off , something went wrong and soon the Air Craft began rolling and the propeller and cowling exploded and the Engine tore out. An ambulance carried the unconscious pilot Douglas to Royal Berkshire hospital. No one blinked with a hope for his survival. Bader survived but he had to lose both his legs which were amputated.

" Never Say die " was Douglas' s spirit which made him to practice walking with artificial legs. Days and days passed but Bader didn't lose hope. Though he stumbled with the artificial fittings for sometime, he brought himself to walk without the aid of the sticks. He appeared before R.A.F. for an interview and passed the tests in Flying. But the Ministry rejected him on grounds of certain regulations. Douglas was heart-broken to see his name on the list of retired employees. His disability pension was so mean that he had to take up a posting in Asiatic Petroleum co.

The World War II broke out in 1935 and the dauntless spirit in Douglas made him to write to RAF, offering himself to work as a fighter pilot. He was back in RAF in 1939 where he earned a promotion as a Fighter Commander soon. Two years went by and Douglas Bader saw himself promoted as a Wing Commander.

His contribution in the Battle of Britain was commendable which was a decisive air conflict during World War II. German believed once RAF was destroyed, they can invade England. 60 German Aircrafts attacked the Ships in the English channel, simultaneously extending the battle to all the Air Bases in the South of England. Britain employed high quality fighter aircrafts, Spit Fires and Hurricanes and beat as many as 850 German Aircrafts. The air battle spread over the whole of southern England. Douglas Bader showed courage in fighting for England's cause.

Tragedy and Douglas go together and Germans shot his plane while flying and took Douglas Bader as a prisoner of war. Bader made an attempt to escape from the prison by tying bedshhets as rope from the hospital where he was undergoing treatment. He was caught at the final moment and was sent to KOLDITZ where difficult prisoners were housed. He was released in 1945 when the W.W.II ended.

Bravery of Royal Air Force was praised by none less than Winston Churchill who wrote " Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few ".

Douglas left RAF after the war ended to join again in the Asiatic Petroleum Co. He flew in an Aircraft given to him by the company all over the world to do business for the SHELL Co. Douglas Bader's life , though pitted with tragedies, is a source of inspiration and courage. Douglas Bader has left an impeccable foot prints in the ' path way of success '.

Post War :-

In June 1945, Bader was given the honor of leading a victory fly-past of 300 aircrafts over London. In 1976, Bader was knighted for his invaluable services to amputees and disabled. Border's artificial legs are on display at the RAF Museum at Stafford, though the museum is restricted to the public. Douglas Bader has a road named after him in Elm Park and in Birmingham. ' BADER WaY " is a few minutes of walking from the Royal Air Force Base. The place where he met with the tragedy and lost both his legs is also named as " BADER WAY ".

Douglas Bader died on Sep 5, 1982 at the age of 72. His memory continues and we stand in homage as we read his life history.




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