Italian Campaign, Spring 1944: six Martin Baltimore of the Desert Air Force, flying in formation on their way to attack German gun positions in the Liri Valley. At left the River Liri. Victor Sierra

Over the Liri Valley

Anti-aircraft gun bursts fill the sky above two Martin Baltimore of No. 232 Wing RAF of the Tactical Bomber Force, as they head inland to bomb enemy gun positions near Lanciano, Southern-Central Italy, in the Sangro River battle area, late 1943-early 1944. Victor Sierra

AA fire

Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL (21 February 1910 – 5 September 1982). He  was a RAF fighter ace during WWII, flying both the Hurricane and Spitfire. What’s amazing is that, as a RAF pilot even before the war started, he crashed a Bristol fighter, resulting in both of his legs being amputated. Fitted with (1930's style!) artificial legs, he was told he would never walk again without a cane. He not only walked without the cane, but also learned to drive and then fly again. When the war started, he volunteered for service again, and was accepted.

His story appeared on the Military Channel (_Air Aces_, a new series) last night, but they neglected to mention how successful he was: he is credited with (quoting the “ever-reliable” Wiki) with “20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.” The photo shows him on the wing of his Hurricane, as Commanding Officer of No.242 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. 

The story sounded so incredible I had to look him up. During the TV show, one speaker commented that he had a “natural” advantage by not having legs: high G turns would draw blood away from the head down to a pilot’s toes. But since Bader had no lower legs, this effected him less. I have no idea how accurate that is from a physiological point of view, but the whole idea of a double amputee being able to serve, much less become a national hero, in the 1940s is not something I would ever have guessed.