| Post; Bader
Douglas Bader was not the nice chap as depicted by Kenneth More in the film Reach for the sky. Although I admire his courage, tenacity and his ability to overcome official adversity to get into the air again, the man was extremely arrogant and obnoxious.
His biggest shameful act in my opinion was his part along with Trafford Leigh-Mallory both of 12 Group in the firing of Sir Hugh Dowding over his handling of the Battle of Britain. Leigh-Mallory and Bader were almost fanatical in their belief of the “Big Wings.” Keith Parks of 11 Group and Hugh Dowding handling of the Battle was absolutely correct as history shows, while the Big Wing theory in effect was a complete and utter failure.
While 11 Group were in the air, 12 group were requested to protect 11 Group airfields from attack, on almost every occasion they do failed to do so. Leigh-Mallory even went as far to complain about an 11 Group aircraft chasing and shooting down a German aircraft in his airspace.
I am not a fan of either Bader nor Leigh-Mallory.
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July 19th, 2008
