| Heroism comes in many different shapes and sizes, | | | | bail out of his plane, legless, over occupied France, on |
| even though for some the term has been | | | | August 9th 1941. The Germans captured him, but |
| overexposed. However, there are a group of people | | | | quickly learned they would have difficulty holding him. |
| who, for whatever reason, become an inspiration to | | | | He was recaptured, after he escaped from a hospital |
| others. People who simply refuse to quit, no matter | | | | unit. His new artificial limbs were confiscated. He was |
| how tough things get. People who are the eternal | | | | sent to the Colditz high security prison, where he |
| optimist. | | | | became an inspiration to the other prisoners, until he |
| Douglas Bader's legs were amputated, when at | | | | was released in 1945. Bador was able to lead his men |
| twenty-one years of age, he was severely injured | | | | in the flypast which commemorated the end of the |
| when his RAF plane crashed. The wing touched the | | | | Second World War, on September 15th 1945. |
| ground when the dare devil Douglas decided to do a | | | | Baden survived the war and was not only awarded |
| low level roll, as he was landing. | | | | the DSO for extraordinary leadership, but also the |
| Douglas however, refused to give up. He demanded | | | | DFC and the Legion D'Honneur and the Croix de |
| some aluminum alloy artificial legs, (prosthese) and | | | | Guerre. In 1976 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth |
| learned to drive a car, play tennis and golf and fly a | | | | for his service to amputees. |
| plane, in spite of Douglas having no legs. Though | | | | Baden became a legend in his own lifetime with advice |
| discharged medically from the RAF, by 1939, Douglas | | | | like, "Never, never let them persuade you that things |
| was reinstated to the RAF, after a seven year gap. It | | | | are too difficult, or impossible. Don't listen to any one |
| was World War 11 and pilots were desperately | | | | who tells you that you can't do this or that. That's |
| needed. | | | | nonsense, make up your own mind, then have a go for |
| The unbeatable and legless Bader was assigned the | | | | everything". |
| challenge of being the Acting Squadron Leader for the | | | | Baden's life was immortalized in the British biographical |
| war weary, demoralized 242 Hurricane Squadron. In | | | | film, 'Reach For The Sky', starring the well known |
| their first major sortie they shot down 12 German | | | | actor, Kenneth Moore, as Douglas. The film clearly |
| planes and never looked back. Bader quickly earned | | | | showed that problems are merely obstacles to be |
| himself a reputation as an ace pilot and became the | | | | overcome and that challenges are simply Blue Moon |
| terror to the Germans. He was among the group of | | | | (once in a lifetime) Opportunities to grow. The film was |
| pilots who helped supply cover for the retreating and | | | | awarded the BAFTA Award for Best British Film of |
| defeated British army and its allies, at Dunkirk. | | | | 1956. Captain Bader died in 1982. |
| Baden's luck ran out, however and he was forced to | | | | |