Bader's War: 'Have a Go at Everything' - Softcover

Mackenzie, S P

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0752455346 ISBN 13: 9780752455341

Publisher: The History Press Ltd, 2010

Synopsis

More than a quarter of a century after his death, Douglas Bader remains the most famous fighter pilot Britain has every known. He lost both of his legs a flying accident in 1931, but overcame his disability and returned to the RAF in 1939, rising to command a Canadian fighter squadron and then the first RAF fighter wing during the Battle of Britain. Shot down and made prisoner, he made numerous escape attempts and became so aggravating to his German captors that he was held in Colditz Castle. Widely recognised for his exploits during the war, he became even more famous from the 1950s onward as a result on a bestselling biography that served as the basis of the hit film Reach for the Sky. 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 the disabled. Bader’s War makes use of new memoirs, interviews, and documents that have only recently become available to shed more light on various episodes in his life and provide a rounded and unbiased portrayal of this fascinating man.

About this title

Review

'An enthralling and even-handed study' --Eastern Daily Press

'Skilfully handled - a multi-faceted account' --Military Illustrated

'A revealing portrait' --Britain at War

This sympathetic biography has unearthed some fascinating material from family papers and memoirs, and relates, flight by flight, Bader's wartime career. It is a useful companion to Bader's own memoirs, and to that remarkable film 'Reach for the Sky', and a great introduction to this personification of the Few, Britain s remarkable wartime pilots. --Good Book Guide, March 2010

'A revealing portrait' --Britain at War

About the Author

S. P. MacKenzie is professor of history at the University of South Carolina and author of several war-related books and articles. His published titles include Politics and Military Morale and The Colditz Myth.

Edition details

• Publisher: The History Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0752455346
• ISBN 13: 9780752455341
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208