Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader

Inspirational Legless Fighter Ace

Like many schoolboys, Dilip Sarkar was captivated by Paul Brickhill’s best-selling book Reach for the Sky, telling the inspirational story of Douglas Bader. Having lost both legs in a blameworthy flying accident before the war, the irrepressible Bader ultimately argued his way back into the RAF, becoming a fighter ‘ace’ and wing leader during the early war years. Naturally Bader’s story was seized upon by the propagandists and used to inspire the nation. The inspiration arising from the Bader story did not stop with the end of World War Two, however, but continued to give great heart to the amputee community on a global basis until the great man’s death in 1982. For that reason Dilip is delighted to support The Douglas Bader Foundation, the charity established as a living memorial to Sir Douglas and of which his widow, Lady Bader OBE remains an active President.

During his research for Bader’s Tangmere Spitfires: 1941, The Untold Story in 1995, Dilip realised that on 9th August 1941, Wing Commander Bader had not been either shot down by or collided with an enemy aircraft, but was the victim of ‘friendly fire’. The pilot concerned, Squadron Leader Buck Casson AFC DFC, was still alive, however, and so as not to cause this august veteran unnecessary distress, Dilip chose not to publish his findings at that time. He did, however, confide in Tangmere Wing veterans Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling, Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson and Group Captain Sir Hugh Dundas, and, indeed, has the documentation to prove it. Respected historian and author Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork was also made aware of Dilip’s concerns and agreed that the well-being of Squadron Leader and Mrs Casson was of infinitely greater importance than rushing off to the newspapers. Sadly Squadron Leader Casson has since died, but still Dilip did not reveal his discovery so as to protect Mrs Casson from unwanted media attention. Another researcher, however, later pieced together and published the story. Nonetheless, Dilip Sarkar’s conscience remains clear over this emotive issue, his integrity intact. He has since published his research in both Spitfire! Courage and Sacrifice (2006) and Spitfire Voices: Life as a Spitfire Pilot in the Words of the Veterans (2010).

Dilip has interviewed innumerable veterans who served with Douglas Bader and is an acknowledged expert on the great man’s life and times – to the extent that he answers historical queries on behalf of The Douglas Bader Foundation. Having already produced Bader’s Tangmere Spitfires (1996), Bader’s Duxford Fighters: The Big Wing Controversy (1997) and Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader: An Inspiration in Photographs (2001), he is currently working on a new two-part Bader biography for Amberley Publishing.

Douglas Bader – a double amputee – golfing at Chichester in 1941 whilst leader of the Tangmere Wing.

Bader first saw action during the air operation to provide cover to the Dunkirk evacuation in late May and early June 1940. At that time he was a flight commander with 222 Squadron, and is pictured here (centre) at Manston during Operation DYNAMO with pilots of his own and 92 Squadron. At second right is another fighter ‘ace’: Flight Lieutenant Robert Stanford Tuck.

Wing Commander Douglas Bader returns from an offensive sweep over France whilst Wing Leader at Tangmere. This is believed to be Spitfire W3185, the Mk VA in which he was brought down over France on 9th August 1941.

In 1995 Dilip Sarkar – a former police detective – reconstructed the air battle in which Wing Commander Bader was lost over France and realised that the Tangmere Wing Leader had actually been the victim of ‘friendly fire’. The pilot inadvertently responsible was Flight Lieutenant LH ‘Buck’ Casson of 616 Squadron, who was himself shot down that day near the French coast.