Last week, Sir Ranulph Fiennes became the oldest Briton to climb Mount Everest.
This week, another archetypal British hero is being honoured.
Sir Richard Branson today unveiled an English Heritage blue plaque to honour Douglas Bader, a hero of the Battle of Britain.
In 1931, Douglas Bader had both of his legs amputated after a plane crash but, in true stiff upper lip style, he refused to let it get him down.
In 1940 he took to the skies again, in a Spitfire, and helped concoct a plan to deploy five squadrons in a 'wing formation' to attack German bombers.
This was successful and resulted in Hitler switching to night time raids and effectively abandoning plans of an invasion of Britain that year.
Sir Douglas has been a source of inspiration to many people over the years, not least David Gardner, who lost a leg during the 7/7 bombings, who was at the unveiling.
Sir Douglas became a disability awareness campaigner, and died on 5th September 1982 aged 72.
Battle of Britain hero Sir Douglas Bader honoured with blue plaque
Sir Douglas Bader, the battle of Britain war hero, was honoured by Sir Richard Branson on Sunday.
31 May 2009
The Telegraph
The plaque commemorating Sir Douglas Bader is unveiled Photo: ANTHONY UPTON
Hero: Douglas Bader fought the Luftwaffe despite having no legs. He shot down 23 enemy aircraft making him 'the fifth most deadly fighter pilot in the RAF'.
The disability awareness campaigner, who passed away in 1982, was commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque.
"His spirit of adventure had an enormous influence on my life as he had on millions of others," said Sir Richard Branson unveiling the plaque.
"He literally reached for the sky. May his life live on and be a great example to all."
David Gardener, who lost a leg during the July 7 terror attacks in London in 2005, also attended the unveiling.
"My father was a pilot for the South African Air Force in World War II so Sir Douglas Bader was always a heroic figure in our family," he said.
"When I lost a leg on 7/7 his life became even more of an inspiration. His fighting spirit gives amputees encouragement to live life to the full."
The champion for charitable activities for the disabled, who was born in 1910, was a pilot in the RAF aerobatics team but suffered a double leg amputation after a plane crash in 1931.
Surpassing doctors' expectations, Sir Douglas walked again using artificial legs just six months after his surgery.
After two failed attempts to get back in the pilot's seat, when World War II was declared, he was allowed to fly again in 1940.
He took to the skies in a Spitfire which he described as "the aeroplane of one's dreams."
The disabled pilot then became involved with destroying German fighter units, and helped concoct a plan to deploy five squadrons in a 'wing formation' to attack German bombers.
'The big wing' strategy was put into place and resulted in Hitler switching to night time raids and effectively abandoning plans of invasion that year.
"The Battle of Britain had been won," said an English Heritage spokeswoman.
By August 1941 Sir Douglas had shot down 23 enemy aircraft making him 'the fifth most deadly fighter pilot in the RAF'. Sir Douglas's hopes to climb higher up the military ladder were dashed when he collided with a German fighter plane over Bethune, in northern France. He was forced to bail out and left one of his prosthetic legs in the cockpit.
He was captured by the Germans and taken to a prisoner of war camp in St Omer, France, where he made friends with his captors and persuaded them to let the British fly him over a new artificial leg.
However with his new leg he managed to escape but was recaptured and sent to another camp in Colditz, Germany.
RAF Museum historian Peter Dye said: "How a man who didn't have any legs thought he could outrun the Luftwaffe and the Gestapo in northern France - I don't know - but he gave it a go!"
He remained as a prisoner until the camp was liberated by American troops in 1945.
He was given numerous honours for his wartime service including the Distinguished Service Order and bar and the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar. He was also asked to lead the first Battle of Britain fly pass in September 1945, a formation of 300 aircraft.
In 1954 author Paul Brickhill created a biography of the pilot which was subsequently made into a film in 1956 called 'Reach for the Sky' and brought him fame as a war hero.
He was Knighted for his services to the disabled in 1976.
After his death following a heart attack in 1982, his family and friends set up the Douglas Bader Foundation, which organises grants for amputees and flying days for disabled children.
The commemorative plaque which 'associates a person with a surviving building' was unveiled in Petersham Mews, Kensington, west London, where Sir Douglas lived for almost 30 years from 1955 until his death.
telegraph.co.uk
This week, another archetypal British hero is being honoured.
Sir Richard Branson today unveiled an English Heritage blue plaque to honour Douglas Bader, a hero of the Battle of Britain.
In 1931, Douglas Bader had both of his legs amputated after a plane crash but, in true stiff upper lip style, he refused to let it get him down.
In 1940 he took to the skies again, in a Spitfire, and helped concoct a plan to deploy five squadrons in a 'wing formation' to attack German bombers.
This was successful and resulted in Hitler switching to night time raids and effectively abandoning plans of an invasion of Britain that year.
Sir Douglas has been a source of inspiration to many people over the years, not least David Gardner, who lost a leg during the 7/7 bombings, who was at the unveiling.
Sir Douglas became a disability awareness campaigner, and died on 5th September 1982 aged 72.
Battle of Britain hero Sir Douglas Bader honoured with blue plaque
Sir Douglas Bader, the battle of Britain war hero, was honoured by Sir Richard Branson on Sunday.
31 May 2009
The Telegraph
The plaque commemorating Sir Douglas Bader is unveiled Photo: ANTHONY UPTON
Hero: Douglas Bader fought the Luftwaffe despite having no legs. He shot down 23 enemy aircraft making him 'the fifth most deadly fighter pilot in the RAF'.
The disability awareness campaigner, who passed away in 1982, was commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque.
"His spirit of adventure had an enormous influence on my life as he had on millions of others," said Sir Richard Branson unveiling the plaque.
"He literally reached for the sky. May his life live on and be a great example to all."
David Gardener, who lost a leg during the July 7 terror attacks in London in 2005, also attended the unveiling.
"My father was a pilot for the South African Air Force in World War II so Sir Douglas Bader was always a heroic figure in our family," he said.
"When I lost a leg on 7/7 his life became even more of an inspiration. His fighting spirit gives amputees encouragement to live life to the full."
The champion for charitable activities for the disabled, who was born in 1910, was a pilot in the RAF aerobatics team but suffered a double leg amputation after a plane crash in 1931.
Surpassing doctors' expectations, Sir Douglas walked again using artificial legs just six months after his surgery.
After two failed attempts to get back in the pilot's seat, when World War II was declared, he was allowed to fly again in 1940.
He took to the skies in a Spitfire which he described as "the aeroplane of one's dreams."
The disabled pilot then became involved with destroying German fighter units, and helped concoct a plan to deploy five squadrons in a 'wing formation' to attack German bombers.
'The big wing' strategy was put into place and resulted in Hitler switching to night time raids and effectively abandoning plans of invasion that year.
"The Battle of Britain had been won," said an English Heritage spokeswoman.
By August 1941 Sir Douglas had shot down 23 enemy aircraft making him 'the fifth most deadly fighter pilot in the RAF'. Sir Douglas's hopes to climb higher up the military ladder were dashed when he collided with a German fighter plane over Bethune, in northern France. He was forced to bail out and left one of his prosthetic legs in the cockpit.
He was captured by the Germans and taken to a prisoner of war camp in St Omer, France, where he made friends with his captors and persuaded them to let the British fly him over a new artificial leg.
However with his new leg he managed to escape but was recaptured and sent to another camp in Colditz, Germany.
RAF Museum historian Peter Dye said: "How a man who didn't have any legs thought he could outrun the Luftwaffe and the Gestapo in northern France - I don't know - but he gave it a go!"
He remained as a prisoner until the camp was liberated by American troops in 1945.
He was given numerous honours for his wartime service including the Distinguished Service Order and bar and the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar. He was also asked to lead the first Battle of Britain fly pass in September 1945, a formation of 300 aircraft.
In 1954 author Paul Brickhill created a biography of the pilot which was subsequently made into a film in 1956 called 'Reach for the Sky' and brought him fame as a war hero.
He was Knighted for his services to the disabled in 1976.
After his death following a heart attack in 1982, his family and friends set up the Douglas Bader Foundation, which organises grants for amputees and flying days for disabled children.
The commemorative plaque which 'associates a person with a surviving building' was unveiled in Petersham Mews, Kensington, west London, where Sir Douglas lived for almost 30 years from 1955 until his death.
telegraph.co.uk
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