I had the real honour to escort this Legend for his last medical in 1982 at PMRAF Halton as a young medic. His first words were as he literally jumped out his taxi" hello lad, I'm Dougie Bader and your expecting Kenneth More " he looked at the wheelchair I'd been ordered to convey him on and told me he wouldn't be needing that and walk and chat with him. What a great personsable man. He inspired me so much that when i sustained a brain injury 30 years later and was told I'd be in a wheelchair for life, i just shook my head and proved them wrong .Thank you Dougie🙏
That's incredible. I can't help but smile at this, so thank you. I just hope others can take inspiration from this and conquer their own adversities just as you have. 👍
One of my favorites was from the '70s, a British airline pilot going into Frankfurt. Frankfurt controllers were known to be stern and impatient. Once on the ground the pilot asked for directions to his gate, and the controller snapped "Have you never been to Frankfurt before?" Pilot: "Well yes, but that was in 1944, and I didn't land, I just dropped something off."
A TV program fronted by Des O'Connor had Stan Boardman and Oliver Reed on Stan was famous for the Germans bombing his dad's chip shop He came out with that joke Stan came in for some stick over that, but I think Stan took the rapps for what Olly came out with
I myself am a bilateral amputee. I find your ability to make light of of these things very refreshing. I’ve always made jokes and such about my amputations. To the point the nurses in the hospital had a psychiatrist come talk to me about being in denial. I found it hilarious these people thought I could deny missing half my body. Weird
why is it always people being offended on others behalf? humor has always been a human coping mechanism and dark humor one of the funnier forms. glad you were able to make light of your situation and apparently handled it better then the people sent to take care of you.
Had a buddy lose his legs in a car crash. He showed up to the next christmas party wearing a shirt that had a gingerbread man with snapped off legs on it. Love that guy
"You can't fly. You don't have any legs Dougie." "Does a bird use its legs to fly? Me neither. Put me in a plane!" Probably went just like that, but with a lot more swearing on Bader's part. The man swore up a blue streak at any opportunity.
I've heard the joke about fuckers and Messerschmitts before. I didn't know it was an actual quote. That makes it even funnier. Thanks for the laugh, Sir Bader.
I seriously love that I don't really need to teach history anymore. My kiddo, who is very interested in WWII and knows quite a bit, has now fallen in love with "the chubby war story guy", and always wants to watch the stories. She has autism but this holds her attention like crazy. I'm not even going to feel upset when she's says "those fuckers were Messerschmits".
Bader's story reinforces something I was once told about German Culture: The various Germanic states and later United Germany represented a diverse group of peoples that on the few things they were uniform upon there was immense passion. One of those things was a grand admiration for innovation and excellence in the face of adversity. When the pilots of Germany looked at Bader they didn't see a cripple; they saw someone who had defied Fate with technology and an iron will.
I would agree with that opinion. Additionally, Adolf Galland was known for having respect towards the enemy and for not supporting Hitler/Nazi leadership. He fought for the German people, not his leaders. He was a more traditional pilot, in that he cared for the opposition’s pilots. I 100% believe he wanted to show his respect to Bader during this because, as they say, game spots game. Very cool story :)
@@carter2671The idea of being a pilot who sees the enemy as somebody worthy of respect is kind of how the story of Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler happened. He saw an unarmed, defenceless aircraft as he would somebody in a parachute.
@@airplanemaniacgaming7877 Certainly! Adolf Galland and Franz Stigler served together during WW2, specifically in North Africa and the final defense of Germany. Exactly the same principle was shared by both men.
Of german descent, huge german family, german german german. Can confirm 100% Nothing will bring a tear to a german's eye faster than someone fighting through a wound or hardship and achieving victory while struggling and suffering. Hitler tried to convince the world that the aryans were the superior state of humanity. OGs (original germans) believe that the real super-race is people who do the right thing and persevere no matter how difficult the battle they face becomes. For some people it's physical, for some people it's psychological, some spiritual. But a person who does "able shit" while "not able" is a german superhero, plain and simple. Sidebar: This is what made them so vulnerable to the propaganda the nazis used. All they had to do was tell the people that germany would survive and become stronger despite its wounds and the people fell for it immediately. I personally believe that the german obsession with engineering comes from a desire to see broken things work again, and so they take every effort to make things that work and work and keep working even with bullet holes in them. It is a character trait that can be easily abused, but can also be easily put to great use. My grandfather was a US veteran and farmer in North Dakota, and his farm fed thousands of people in and around his community. He died of cancer. Almost a full year after they said he'd be dead, and long after his 80th birthday. He's in heaven now, with the real superhero. But that man was proof that the closest thing a German believes in as far as a superhero isn't someone who can lift a train car with his bare hands, but someone who can stand back up after having one dropped on him.
As an American, who used to be a Brit. (Yes it confuses people when I show them all my guns with a British accent! 😂 Long live the Republic!). I really appreciate your coverage of the absolute mad lad Douglas Bader!
I was also confused watching The Chieftain's (Nicolas Moran) channel. He's a US Army armour officer with an Irish accent. He held dual US and Irish citizenship for a while.
I knew a cool ass British American guy when I was in the service who you remind me of. Glad to have you over here sir. He was in the British version of the Army, then he joined our Army and got his citizenship. Coolest freakin dude ever.
You should do a video on the Alaska Scouts from WW2, also nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats. They were a special Army unit comprised of hunting guides, trappers, miners, prospectors, and fishermen. After Japan took a couple Alaskan islands, these guys were dropped off via submarine and rubber rafts to establish beach heads and airstrips in order to facilitate the air bombings of the Japanese held islands. They lived off the land and operated in areas where 99% of the conventional Army would've failed or been held stagnant by the conditions. There were only about 100 members of the unit.
After the war Douglas wanted a private pilot license, the air ministry refused him because he had no leges. He went to the ministry headquarters and explained that he was a war ace and pow after a long conversation he got the license
@@EthalaRideI do love some of those "do you know who I am stories". Reminds me of a few other stories like one where a former special forces veteran was forced to take a basic firearms test because they didn't beleive he knew how to operate a firearm, or another story where some young men tried picking a fight with Jack Dempsey (former world heavy weight boxing champion), or a similar story (not to his face) where people questioned why Cus Dimato (sp?) knowledge of boxing (trained Tyson and impressed Ali repeatedly), or that time an idiot told Stephen King he didn't know about literature and should read a book because he didn't recognize him
I'm English, come from a family of vets and have never heard of this guy, I was born in the early 80s, I feel let down (by my nation's education system) that an American (no insult intended, love your content) had to teach me this. This story, especially told the way it was in this video is inspiring. How many kids dealing with mental health issues, disability, depression, puberty hormones would be inspired by this whole story including the fokker part. Thank you for revealing a real hero to me.
Tbf no countries history lessons will teach you about individual, pilots, soldiers or seamen unless they have a greater effect So its nothing to do with our education system Topics like these are more of a deep dive topic.
I was born in the mid 50s, and grew up watching the 1956 B&W film "Reach for The Sky" many, many times. There were so many war films and programmes on the TV, kids knew all about WW2. We read war comics and built plastic kits of Spitfires and tanks. Then Star Wars happened and everything changed.
I first learned and read about Baader when I was 10 years old. I was exposed to a lot of things then that children today are not ever exposed to. I heard the stories of two world wars from the men who lived them.
Msgt Roy Benavidez should be next. Survived a landmine and 37 bullet, bayonet and shrapnel wounds after a 6hr fight. Another legendary Green Beret Texan.
In one of your other videos, someone said "If this guy was a history Teacher, no one would miss a class" I agree. You make it real. And I am a Military Historian. I would have finished High School if you were my History Teacher... I'm an old man now. Talk about the Wind Talker. Thanks bro
There's a book called "Life's Too Short To Cry" written by a Battle of Britain ace Tim Vigors who was interestingly enough an Irishman fighting with the RAF. He served under or with Bader under 222 Squadron, and in an effort to be the fastest crew during a night scramble Bader devised a plan where Tim was in a bunk on one side of Bader with one of his prosthetic legs, and another pilot was on the other side of Bader with his other prosthetic leg and I believe they eventually had the system down where they were the fastest crew for a scramble. 10/10 would recommend reading/listening to that book as it tells another amazing story of a RAF ace.
It was not uncommon for Irishman to fight with the British in WW2 (Excluding northern Irish cause well of course it was common) Many Irishman felt like Ireland standing by doing nothing while Hitler committed great evil was something they could not sit idly by so many joined the Northern Irish Regiments , RAF or the navy . The sad part is how they were treated by the Irish when they returned They had land taken from them Abandoned by families (Most out of fear of retaliation) So they either stayed and suffered until Ireland wiped there records (Too late most of there lives were ruined) Or go to the UK where they were treated as heroes by the so called enemy
I briefly met Douglas Bader as a kid in the 1960s when he came to our town to meet up with a young boy who had become a double amputee after an accident. He stopped to ask for directions and we chatted for a little while. He did seem quite formal and reserved but that would have been quite normal for a man of his age at the time - especially one with a background in the Forces. I would have had no idea who he was if not for a local newspaper running an article on his visit. I believe he stayed in touch with the lad he visited for years by letter.
Reminds me of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who I had the incredible honor to interview one time. Sick and tired of his frostbitten fingers, he went to the shed and cut them off. Annoyed by the construction of an ugly concrete damn near his home in the UK, he decided to blow it up. Got kicked out of the SAS for that one. Also went to both poles, served in Oman and climbed Everest. Absolute gentleman and madman.
I'm a 71-year-old great-grandmother and I love your videos because I've always been interested in World War I and World War II . I've subscribed and rang the bell. God Bless you
My favorite part of Bader's story is that after the war, Britian's Southern Railway built a series of steam locomotives known as the "Battle of Britain Class." Each locomotive was named for officers, squadrons, and RAF bases that had participated in the battle. When the locomotive named "Fighter Pilot," number 21C155 was commissioned, Bader was invited to the christening ceremony as a guest of honor. He was even allowed into the cab and took the throttle for the loco's maiden run.
Funny how that class of Locomotives never had an engine named 303 Squadron, that RAF 303 Squadron shot down more enemy aircraft during the battle than any other and lost fewer pilots. Why did they not name a locomotive, nothing to do with the fact that the pilots were Polish Refugees was it??? Not forgetting that 303 joined the battle halfway through, flying Hurricanes.
That quote about Messerschmitts had me rolling. I have said before, I'll say it again: If history were taught like this in schools, maybe kids would have a better understanding and therefore a greater appreciation of history.
If you can't tell a story that grabs kids' attention, you have no business teaching history. Both of my parents were teachers, so I knew whose class to take.
Oh my god lol… so, this is officially one of my favorite videos you’ve made because the last minute or so contained one of my dads favorite “jokes” that I never knew was at least based on a true story. The “those fuckers were Messerschmitts” line KILLS. My life is complete knowing that was a real interaction lol.
Damn bro! This Permasafe sponsorship hits close to home! Literally 3 mins and 47 seconds ago I was telling my wife that I checked the dishwasher filter and it is disgusting. I promised to clean it when I have some gloves. PSA: Check and clean you dishwasher filter. Protect your hands with Permasafe gloves first. Also, change your car’s cabin air filter!
@@clonescope2433 I had the kid from O'Reilys looking for half an hour for the port to plug in and check the codes on my car. I do this occasionally to new kids at stores. My summer daily drivers are a 1965 GTO and a 1970 Cuda. To be fair, the Cuda does kinda sorta resemble the new Challengers and its the same green you can get on the Challenger. Perhaps I should have them change the cabin air filter as well... Damn, I should make a video of the next time I do that to a kid.
Amazing! So I just had some of the most nostalgic memories from this video. My dad always said the quote “These Fuckers were flying Messerschmitts.” I didn’t know this is where that quote came from. You have made my day my friend! Also what a great and inspiring piece of history. Absolute respect 🫡 for everyone who has served and who are serving in our military and our allies.
I recently bought a Pulaski from Warwood tools, (after your ad) and remembered the story behind the tool itself. Ed Pulaski was a U.S. Forest Service Ranger / Wildland Firefighter who gained his fame by holding a group of 20-or-so firefighters at gunpoint in a mine shaft while a fire raged just feet outside. By doing so, he saved many of them from an untimely and grim death-by-fire. He was there during the early years of the National Forests and was a key player in the events of the 1910 fire fittingly named "The Big Burn". There were many other brave men (such as Gifford Pinchot and Elers Koch) who battled this fire and were equally involved in the events. Now, I know this isn't military history, but seeing as how you often times talk about badasses in history, I thought I would give it a shot.
@@deanfirnatine7814 As I am just beginning my firefighting history journey, I am not currently aware of Storm King, although I will be sure to check it out when I have time. As to the death toll, I am also shamefully ignorant, but I’ll fix that. Thank you for all you do as a firefighter, I hope to become one myself someday.
Respect for sharing the story of a British wartime hero, we learnt about him at school (I'm British and from the London area) Here is a quote that has stuck with me for years; Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men- Sir Douglas Bader.
I'd love to hear your take on the "Ye Olde Pub" incident, in which a German fighter pilot encountered a crippled B17 but instead of shooting it down and scoring an easy kill, escorted them to safety. The two pilots later became lifelong friends.
Reach for the Sky was a book (written by Brickhill) before it became a movie. He toured US VA Hospitals and took interest in the amputees. He told one guy, who had lost a leg below the knee and was at a low point mentally, "You're lucky that you only lost one." The guy angrily snarled at him, said things that would get this post banned, and basically half shouted "what do you know about it?" Bader then walked over to a chair, sat down and pulled up his pants high enough to show that he had lost two! He did coach the guy a bit and let him know that he fought the Battle of Britain AFTER he had lost his legs, to inspire the man! He also had written a boy who had to have a leg amputation while he was in Coldlitz Prison, encouraging him to learn how to walk and be active!
@@peterrollinson-lorimer I used to buy hardback copies (when I could find one in very good condition that I could afford) and give them out to Rehab centers. Both for the staff to read and for loans to a patient(s) and/or their family(ies)
When Bader went down, his plane was indeed recovered. The Germans recovered his prosthetic leg from the wreckage and gave it back to him. When he pointed out that it was damaged, the Germans did a little work on it and brought it up to serviceable condition.
@@ez_company9325this comment only said a leg, it's possible that his other leg was damaged and fell off during his capture and they repaired it, it's also possible that their repairs weren't 100% correct or that despite the repairs it still wasn't in good enough shape for long term usage, or the recovered and repaired leg was the air dropped one, or this is false. I don't know the answer, but there was at least a recreation of the letter shown in the video. Edit: that letter is around the 20:00 minute mark
@@ez_company9325 That part of the story is true, but there's more detail to it. The spot where the leg was bent never really worked right, so he asked the Germans if they could check on getting another. The Germans graciously offered to let a single British plane overfly the area and drop the leg, but not wanting the Germans to get any humanitarian ammo out of such a gesture, the RAF decided to include the leg in a regular bombing run. Worked like a charm.
A great story about Bader was that he heard about metal ailerons for the Spitfire, which did not balloon and cause slowdown in a dive. So he flew to the engineering site, got them fitted and the next combat flight he outdived both the target ME109 AND HIS own Wingman! Needless to say his report was less than truthful. An absolute legend!
My dear "Fat Electrician", whether or not YOU are an amputee, I feel that "Sir Douglas" would highly approve of your irreverent dialogue in the telling of his amazing story. Keep up the great work, as such spirit also thrives in peace time. So greatly enjoyed. John 🇨🇦
4:46 : "He just figured it out". Something to be said about a guy who trailblazes a path for others to follow in his footsteps... when he doesn't have any feet of his own.
I’ve personally met and had many conversations with one of the last surviving SeaBees from WWII. I even installed their garbage disposal 😂. This man even at 86? Years old (at the time) then… what a spitfire. He was the first elderly person I met that i not only looked up to, but I wanted to be him some day (and this was after being in the Marine Corps). Lets just say the only person I ever heard talk shit about the Seabees got schooled by me and almost received an ass whoopin for good measure. Kids nowadays need REAL lessons in what being a badass really is!
I understand if you may not want to repeat it, but I'm curious as to what anyone could say about the Seabees that was negative or what exactly people say to ridicule or criticize them? I just couldn't really fathom what that could be? Thank you in advance, and it is fine if you don't want to repeat whatever someone said, but maybe a general idea of what people could possibly say or what they come up with to criticize or be disrespectful towards the Seabees or any similar groups?
My dad, a National Guard fighter pilot, gave me this book about Bader, Reach for the Sky, when I was 10. I've read it at least a dozen times over the last 50 years. The author, Paul Brickhill, also wrote The Great Escape. The irony of his lack of a leg keeping him alive when he bailed out has always been one of my favorite parts of his story.
When Douglas Bader was having his prosthetic legs made and fitted he gave the 'experts' hell telling them how they should be made and what length they should be etc. He really pioneered great process in this area. At that time they made the legs to be the same length, hardly anyone has legs the same length! Bader insisted that one of his legs should be (If I remember correctly) 2" shorter than the other so it could swing through easily. He is the only person in history to be able to walk independently on two (old style) prosthetic legs! He also tended to keep his upper body slightly forward to help is balance. I'm still not convinced that the 'experts' would agree with the way he did it - despite the fact it worked for a very long time. True hero in every sense of the word. He also spent a lot of time working with disadvantaged boys, helping them to aspire to more than society would have them be.
With all due respect to ALL of the men and women who've fought (and sometimes died), there's one man who you should absolutely recognize for this coming Christmas. For all of the DECADES that he was active, as long as there were Americans fighting, he never spent a holiday at home. He was ALWAYS with them, helping morale, giving them a reason to keep going, despite never having served, himself, due to a childhood accident that nearly crippled him, when one knee was crushed while playing in a train yard. When I was small boy, even into my teen years, he served the men and women in Vietnam. Before that he helped out in WW2 and Korea, and wherever men and women were stationed far from home. Eventually, the USAF gave him the honorary rank of full General, in recognition of his decades of selfless service to American servicemen and women.... .....General Bob Hope
You gotta be pretty gangsta to be a civillian that gets bumped straight to General for what you've done. Didn't know this, now, on to a Google rabbit hole I go! 😅 P.S. Appropriate last name is appropriate.
That would be so right! I really hope to see that video here; I know it would be excellent. General Bob Hope was on tour in Vietnam while my ship was in the Tonkin Gulf directing aircraft in and out of the fight. We never knew about that at the time though. I'd never heard about his "promotion." What a deserved acknowledgment! 👍
Having read the biography my grandparents had on this legend, I could not click faster on this video. Two things I liked from the book was that the Germans found his crashed aircraft and the broken prosthetic leg, and fixed it, so in addition to the one the British dropped, he had three of them. The second was he demanded that he be able to go on walks through the German countryside (let that sink in for a minute), and when he was granted them, he would load his legs with food that he'd bring back into camp.
13:24 “…a legless man in the biggest ass kicking contest the world has ever seen.” 😂😂😂 my brother in Christ that is definitely one of your best one liners.
That man was very strong minded and determined,dedicated. A man with great willpower and a willingness to serve his country to the best of his abilities. A REAL MAN. Great history lessons for me. Thank you very much for your time and hard work getting the information like this out.
I read Bader's biography "Reach For The Sky" back when I was just a kid in the early 1970s. Totally amazing badass. Never let his limitations limit him. Thank you for telling his story to many folks who might not have heard of this legless Brit pilot.
This guy had no one to give him a leg up, he was basically told to give up. At that point I would have been stumped how to get back onto my feet, but he did not stand for it. What a legend
I was lucky enough to have met Bader when I was a young Air Cadet he was very patient and friendly towards me and my squadron. He signed a copy of his autobiography it is one of my most prized possessions.
" That may be ma'am, but these fockers were meserschimts. " LOL! A quote from a hero that absolutely doesn't give a shit what other people think about him ! 😂
If you haven't covered Fighting Jack Churchill, then you should. Dude went into battle during WW II with a longbow, Scottish broadsword, and bagpipes. Dude was a bad ass.
There are some awesome stories about Bader in “The Latter Days of Colditz”. He gained a parole from the Castle Commandant to go on walks around the surrounding countryside, and so he’d go out on these walks with a fellow inmate, their secret pockets filled full of Red Cross and black market food, and basically seek to destroy the morale of the German civilians whilst gaining intelligence on the area at the same time.
@@hccarder yep they created a false wall in an attic and built a workshop in the dead space. The glider was created out of bed boards and mattress covers and anything else they could steal\scrounge. The launching system was going to be a catapult system based around a bathtub full of concrete, descending at speed down the old clock tower shutes.
My teacher read us Bader's story when I was a young teenager. I thought it was exaggerated, until I saw the old guy demonstrate how he got into the cockpit in a video when he was ancient. As I remember it, one of his biggest struggles in life was figuring out how to play golf without falling over. The word 'legend' was created for the likes of this man.
They don't teach these in school and learning has never been so much fun! 😊 I would bet that the reason they don't want kids learning about these heroes is that they don't want people to have ambition anymore! 😢
His abilities with the primitive artificial legs of the time were truly amazing. They were basically one step above peglegs, but the man made them act like his natural, quite athletic limbs. THAT is the achievement.
@@arkhaan7066I was just thinking of that guy! Renascence-Era Prosthetic with a spring-locked grip, was actually able to both fence with swords and pole arms up to zweihandler with it…rumoured to have cold cocked someone in the jaw his literal iron fist a few times, but even more in line with Sir Douglas Bader, would be the attitude and anti-hero status…the absolute irreverence for authority and social mores at the time. Dude told the goddamn Pope off multiple times, sided both with and against peasant uprisings depending on what he felt like that day, and was willing to throw hands (er…hand) with anyone who said he couldn’t fight on the frontlines anymore. Also, the first verifiable source for a well known “colourful metaphor” that made it’s way not just into Deutsch, but also English, French, and many other languages: “Lich meine arsch!” indeed!
23:50 “The lengths haters will go to just to hate never ceases to amaze me!”. Yup. It’s truly unbelievable. You put that much work and emotion to get better and you’ll stop being a hater. We’re all made in Gods image. No excuses. Go do the work. Don’t be intellectually lazy. Pick up heavy thing. It’s amazingly effective.
Don't hate the player, hate the game! I don't understand why so many people react like that to someone overcoming adversity and becoming among the best at whatever the job may be. Don't be a jealous crybaby, instead learn from them and study what made them so damn good at it and use that intel to elevate your own game! Thanks for another great story bro. As long as you keep pumpin em out you have a huge fan in me! 💯
I was told, about two hours ago, that overcoming adversity and achieving something difficult, is only anecdotal to my own life. I replied that I am not the only one who thinks and acts that way, these people called MEN do it and perhaps the commenter should try being one.
I was at primary (elementary) school in the late 1960's, and we were given his autobiography Reach For The Sky to read as an English language project. When we'd completed the book, Douglas Bader came to the school to tell us in person his remarkable story. I can remember sitting next to him on a bench during lunch break, and knocking on his prosthetics to make sure they really were false legs! He was a absolute legend 🙂
I was about to post the same, except it was the mid 70's. Honestly though, it was a little bit of a waste, I would have loved to have sat down and talked to the man when I was a teenager, heck now would be great.
I had the honour of waiting on him during a transatlantic crossing on the QE2 in 1975. As a 16 year old I had no idea who the gentleman with the wobbly leg was and one of the older waiters told me he was a famous fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. That explanation satisfied me at the time but when I later heard his whole story I was quite disappointed I didn't know back then. My recollection was of a friendly, polite and very well turned out gentleman often quietly eating alone. We owe that man so much, one of the Great Britain's.
To note, the Big Wing did have some very, very serious problems - although the base idea of "have a shitload of planes in the air" wasn't a bad idea, there were a lot of issues with implementation, and a lot of issues with Britain just not having the greatest planes for such a strategy in terms of fuel efficiency, being able to maneuver while in formation, and being protected enough from, say... someone flanking them, and the reason the strategy was only used five times is that it tended to just not be able to get off the ground and wasted a ton of RAF pilots in the process. It's considered fairly widely that the entire strategy was more for propaganda purposes than actual effectiveness, as Mallory was a thoroughly incompetent commander (who also fucked up Britain's air campaigns in several of its colonies, which eventually led to his death in an ironic fashion when he got sent to one of them) and most people were more focused on the people in command who had actual flight experience and were doing a lot more with a lot less, so he wanted more attention. This doesn't reflect poorly on Douglas, mind you, but it's important context for why a lot of people would have been mad that he was sticking up for Mallory - because Mallory's position in the RAF was already a very polarizing one, and the strategy Douglas was propping up by supporting him was failing everywhere except in Britain itself, where it was a lesser priority than their main strategies.
You said it, Bader himself was a very brave man, a skilled pilot and obviously a beloved leader, but some of his theories on air defense, taken up by Lee Mallory cost alot of people their lives. And caused havoc for the two men who actually won the battle of britian, Sir's Dowding and Park. I respect the man, doesnt mean i have to like him.
@@shaunpatterson9148 "Their strategies cost a lot of men their lives" Like what strategies has ever prevented death of the combatants on a mission? I'll wait. While I'm waiting, how many pilots died in the small formation groups. Was that strategy better?
@@rcstl8815 i never said men, i said people. Significant portions of the east side were heavily bombed when 11 group were fully engaged and called on 12 group who faffed about forming up the big wing. That or they didnt follow orders and went off on their own, allowing 11 group airfeilds to get smashed, like hornchurch on the 12th of September
@@rcstl8815 As i said, i think he is a very brave man, and i do definitely respect the man. but that doesnt mean i have to like him. I dont have to like his politics.
In 1976 my Grandfather went to a Commonwealth aircrew reunion. One of the programs he kept from the reunion has the signatures of Sir Douglas Bader, Gen Jimmy Doolittle and a few others. Its one of the more interesting random things I inherited.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy who was a MOH recipient in Afghanistan award posthumously for his sacrifice in Operation Red Wings. His story stands out from how his peers remember him throughout his early life before and his career during the military as a SEAL. The man absolutely laid it all down for his men and was the inspiration for the book and movie 'Lone Survivor'. I think he'd be a great fallen hero to cover.
A quote that is attributed to Sir Douglas Bader is one of my favorites: "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men." My LT didn't like that quote very much... A more inspirational one from him being: "Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do this or that. That’s nonsense. Make up your mind you’ll never use crutches or a stick, then have a go at everything… never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible."
Fun fact, there is a platform used by the RAF air cadets, which barely works called 'Bader' and the joke goes 'The name is quite appropriate, because both don't have legs'
Well, you certainly did your research on that one. I was born in 1955 and Douglas Bader was still a big hero during my schooldays. Like many here, I have read Reach For The Sky and watched the film. When I was around 21 years-old, I worked with an old guy who had been an aircraft fitter for Bader at Duxford. One day he attempted to help Bader up to the wing of his spitfire, at which point he was told very sternly, 'Take your hands off me.' Whatever he could do for himself, he did. I was also told that the respect that the ground crew had for Bader was massive. Well, it would be, wouldn't it?
I read his biography Reach for the sky, back in the day... you literally left off the best part... After he lost his legs and he took up golfing he had a terrible issue with standing when teeing off and also had a heck of a slice.. So he had one of his legs shortened. After doing that he could drive the ball straight as an arrow.
@@ronjones-6977 lol.. I don't remember in the book how much he had taken off. but I believe it was the right leg. I also know that since he was a squadron leader his two initials DB were in front of the roundel (the RAF sign on the side of the plane) and his squadmates called him Dogs Body in a very twisted humor type of way. Its a really good book.. better than the movie actually.
We learnt about Douglas bader in junior school as an inspirational figure. Hearing his story again reminded me of an amputee i met once at a country pub where he was prusiking up a tree. He'd lost his leg after a paragliding accident when he landed in a green house. He had various legs for different activities: His climbing leg, his swimming leg, his running leg and his leg-over leg!😉🤣🤣🤣 I also knew another amputee who was a member of Cave Rescue and was still going down caves performing rescues in his 60s!
Dude, love the fact youve covered Sir Douglas. Youre amazing presentation skills really did justice to his story. He is the very epitome of no such thing as excuses. It's a fairly broad topic but maybe you could cover Operation Jedburgh. The many guys that operated as teams all over the various theatres of WW2 were truly amazing. Its fair to say that without these teams of UK, US and European operatives then D-Day would possibly have turned out very differently. They were so successful that Hitler extended his commando decree to include operatives captured from Jedburgh.
He was one of my boyhood heroes and later in life whilst working as a journalist I got the chance to meet him and observe him in unguarded moments. The result? He is STILL one of my heroes!
I absolutely love that you're so open and unabashed by the fact that you, like everyone else, have biases. Nobody on earth is immune to it- we all tell our own versions of stories. You, however, seem willing to embrace that vulnerability and keep on trucking. That's admirable! It's also informative to your audience that there's more to learn. You do good work! I hope to see more long-form videos because that's where you really shine in my opinion
Well it wasn’t really he thought it, as much as he knew he had no other choice then to try! What else is there? Not like someone is going to be coming to just pick you up in a few minutes.
I read Douglas Baders book in jr high school. It propelled me on my way to a life long dream of becoming a military pilot. That book was required reading for my two sons, one of which is a military aircrew member. His courage to overcome and continue to bring the war to the enemy was an inspiration to me and mine. What a warrior! Thank you for telling his story, may it be an inspiration to future warriors. Well done marine!
If you didn't know the Germans got so upset at his repeated escape attempts they took away his legs. Him and his fellow POWs made such a fuss they were forced to give them back. Legend
I've written this 3 times already, but you have to look into Leo Major, the one eyed Canadian Rambo who liberated a city by himself. I would love to see a video on him!
I’m halfway through a full back tattoo of Battle of Britain featuring his squadron. My grandfather knew him personally and bragged for as long as the man was alive that his famous pilot friend could probably run a marathon with no legs and win. R.I.P. to the greatest generation.
Thank You for doing a video about one of us Brits and about someone who has been a personal hero of mine since I was a child. Oh, and a crumpet is a bread based breakfast item. Love all of your videos.
You have me in tears. Happy, laughing tears until the end when the main character passes or ‘joy’ where they are finally recognized for their heroism or sad because they pay the ultimate price. Thank you for what you do !
Who should i cover next?
Audie Murphy
Battle of Osan.
Patton
Or Desmond Doss the full story because some crazy things people don’t know
AKA Task Force Smith
Doug also was a guest at a Luftwaffe reunion after the war and was noted as saying "My God, I had no idea we left so many of you bastards alive"
Dear god Doug 😂😂😂
That’s amazing
incredible 😂
Thats so fucking brutal holy shit!
British humor at it's best.
I had the real honour to escort this Legend for his last medical in 1982 at PMRAF Halton as a young medic. His first words were as he literally jumped out his taxi" hello lad, I'm Dougie Bader and your expecting Kenneth More " he looked at the wheelchair I'd been ordered to convey him on and told me he wouldn't be needing that and walk and chat with him. What a great personsable man. He inspired me so much that when i sustained a brain injury 30 years later and was told I'd be in a wheelchair for life, i just shook my head and proved them wrong .Thank you Dougie🙏
"You're never going to walk again."
Nu'uh!
"You're never gonna walk again"
"You and what army?"
They told me that same thing when I broke my back and it took me two years and more than 90 surgeries before I could start to walk again! 😊
That's incredible. I can't help but smile at this, so thank you. I just hope others can take inspiration from this and conquer their own adversities just as you have. 👍
Wow!
RAF: "You'll never fly again."
Bader: "Hold my legs..."
Im so mad i didmt say this lol
Best comment, bar none.
That's that crab bucket mentality at play.
That comment is SO GOOD. Hahaha thank you!
Thank you! 😂
"These Fokkers were in Messerschmitts" will forever be one of the best aviation jokes/stories to ever grace this earth lmfao
So great. 😂
One of my favorites was from the '70s, a British airline pilot going into Frankfurt. Frankfurt controllers were known to be stern and impatient. Once on the ground the pilot asked for directions to his gate, and the controller snapped "Have you never been to Frankfurt before?" Pilot: "Well yes, but that was in 1944, and I didn't land, I just dropped something off."
I had heard the line as part of a joke. That version had a Norwegian telling the story about the Fokkers.
it just goes so hard
A TV program fronted by Des O'Connor had Stan Boardman and Oliver Reed on
Stan was famous for the Germans bombing his dad's chip shop
He came out with that joke
Stan came in for some stick over that, but I think Stan took the rapps for what Olly came out with
I myself am a bilateral amputee. I find your ability to make light of of these things very refreshing. I’ve always made jokes and such about my amputations. To the point the nurses in the hospital had a psychiatrist come talk to me about being in denial. I found it hilarious these people thought I could deny missing half my body. Weird
Im really glad you enjoyed the video! I cant believe they called a psych for you.
why is it always people being offended on others behalf?
humor has always been a human coping mechanism and dark humor one of the funnier forms.
glad you were able to make light of your situation and apparently handled it better then the people sent to take care of you.
Had a buddy lose his legs in a car crash. He showed up to the next christmas party wearing a shirt that had a gingerbread man with snapped off legs on it. Love that guy
You are now my favorite LMF. Keep kicking ass....or whatever.
Did you tell them they walked off without ya?
This man deserves a standing ovation.........wait.
Mad i didmt think of that
A sitting ovation you mean
Big oof [insert whole theater face palming]
@SteveInLava that was the joke...
😂😂😂😂😂
"You can't fly. You don't have any legs Dougie."
"Does a bird use its legs to fly? Me neither. Put me in a plane!"
Probably went just like that, but with a lot more swearing on Bader's part. The man swore up a blue streak at any opportunity.
I've heard the joke about fuckers and Messerschmitts before. I didn't know it was an actual quote. That makes it even funnier. Thanks for the laugh, Sir Bader.
Why is it called a blue streak?
What’s the joke, Sir?
@@ElGreco15 A blue streak, is a sentence with a lot of swearing in it.
Blue jokes are jokes with lots of swearing and / or sexual references.
@@ElGreco15Probably because it's about talking non-stop without catching your breath until your face turns blue.
I seriously love that I don't really need to teach history anymore. My kiddo, who is very interested in WWII and knows quite a bit, has now fallen in love with "the chubby war story guy", and always wants to watch the stories. She has autism but this holds her attention like crazy. I'm not even going to feel upset when she's says "those fuckers were Messerschmits".
“G force is basically viagra, for this guy” laughed so hard at the reality of that joke it still hurts🤣
Bader's story reinforces something I was once told about German Culture:
The various Germanic states and later United Germany represented a diverse group of peoples that on the few things they were uniform upon there was immense passion.
One of those things was a grand admiration for innovation and excellence in the face of adversity.
When the pilots of Germany looked at Bader they didn't see a cripple; they saw someone who had defied Fate with technology and an iron will.
So the German peoples are united in an urge to engineer.
I would agree with that opinion. Additionally, Adolf Galland was known for having respect towards the enemy and for not supporting Hitler/Nazi leadership. He fought for the German people, not his leaders. He was a more traditional pilot, in that he cared for the opposition’s pilots. I 100% believe he wanted to show his respect to Bader during this because, as they say, game spots game. Very cool story :)
@@carter2671The idea of being a pilot who sees the enemy as somebody worthy of respect is kind of how the story of Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler happened. He saw an unarmed, defenceless aircraft as he would somebody in a parachute.
@@airplanemaniacgaming7877 Certainly! Adolf Galland and Franz Stigler served together during WW2, specifically in North Africa and the final defense of Germany. Exactly the same principle was shared by both men.
Of german descent, huge german family, german german german.
Can confirm 100%
Nothing will bring a tear to a german's eye faster than someone fighting through a wound or hardship and achieving victory while struggling and suffering.
Hitler tried to convince the world that the aryans were the superior state of humanity.
OGs (original germans) believe that the real super-race is people who do the right thing and persevere no matter how difficult the battle they face becomes.
For some people it's physical, for some people it's psychological, some spiritual.
But a person who does "able shit" while "not able" is a german superhero, plain and simple.
Sidebar:
This is what made them so vulnerable to the propaganda the nazis used.
All they had to do was tell the people that germany would survive and become stronger despite its wounds and the people fell for it immediately.
I personally believe that the german obsession with engineering comes from a desire to see broken things work again, and so they take every effort to make things that work and work and keep working even with bullet holes in them.
It is a character trait that can be easily abused, but can also be easily put to great use.
My grandfather was a US veteran and farmer in North Dakota, and his farm fed thousands of people in and around his community.
He died of cancer.
Almost a full year after they said he'd be dead, and long after his 80th birthday.
He's in heaven now, with the real superhero.
But that man was proof that the closest thing a German believes in as far as a superhero isn't someone who can lift a train car with his bare hands, but someone who can stand back up after having one dropped on him.
Sir Bader actually won an ass-kicking contest against 2 legged men!
That's even busier that a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.
Two people or people with two legs?
Oh wait
That’s the joke
😂 I’m a tad bit slow
@@jlit316017 people with 2 legs each
100% Disabled Veteran. I was told wheelchair by 30 y/o. Pushing 50 on my own two feet still... I love this pilots character!
You probably hear this a lot, but thank you for your service
Normally he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, but Sir Bader became so good at his craft that he should’ve been referred to as Master… Bader.
How dare you make me read that with my own eyes 😂
supreme master if you dont mind
That’s Sir Master Bader to you
@@LBdreamin if he learned German and Italian he could also be a cunning linguist.
@@amacfarlane001Nobody makes me read with my own eyes!
Sir, you actually make a commercial entertaining. I salute you.
Shit even got me to buy a box haha. my unit gonna be stealing these from me I know it
Hell yes he does. It’s incredible.
Can you imagine the fainting at woke corporate America!
Dude, i paused it when i had to walk away. Didn't even think twice about it haha
@@rcstl8815Why do we need to bring woke-ness into a video about a British ace from World War 2.
As an American, who used to be a Brit. (Yes it confuses people when I show them all my guns with a British accent! 😂 Long live the Republic!). I really appreciate your coverage of the absolute mad lad Douglas Bader!
I was also confused watching The Chieftain's (Nicolas Moran) channel. He's a US Army armour officer with an Irish accent. He held dual US and Irish citizenship for a while.
Unless you actively gave up your British citizenship, you’re still British as well as American. Which would make two of us. :)
Once a Brit always a Brit
I knew a cool ass British American guy when I was in the service who you remind me of. Glad to have you over here sir. He was in the British version of the Army, then he joined our Army and got his citizenship. Coolest freakin dude ever.
Now that's a naturalized citizen 🗽🇺🇲🦅🤠🏈🇻🇮🎖️🧑🚀🎆🎇⛽🪖🥩⚾🏞️🌁🌃🎸🥧🫰💵💣🏀🍺🏗️🍔🎥✈️
As a Brit who grew up in the 20thC when Bader was a famous hero - I'd've liked this video twice, if I could! :D .. 10/10 no notes..
As an electrician who watches this channel, this is the best electrician channel on the platform👍🏼
As an electrician, I second this. ❤
As a not electrician I third this
As a marine electrician; the question has been moved and seconded; I call the question. All in favor, say 'Aye.'
@@lairdcummings9092aye
@@lairdcummings9092 as a Plumber I have to say Naye 🤣
You should do a video on the Alaska Scouts from WW2, also nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats. They were a special Army unit comprised of hunting guides, trappers, miners, prospectors, and fishermen. After Japan took a couple Alaskan islands, these guys were dropped off via submarine and rubber rafts to establish beach heads and airstrips in order to facilitate the air bombings of the Japanese held islands. They lived off the land and operated in areas where 99% of the conventional Army would've failed or been held stagnant by the conditions. There were only about 100 members of the unit.
That’s fucking incredible. I had no Idea Japan occupied Alaska islands
Got my vote
After the war Douglas wanted a private pilot license, the air ministry refused him because he had no leges. He went to the ministry headquarters and explained that he was a war ace and pow after a long conversation he got the license
Honestly, I would blame him if he pulled a "Do you know who I am?!?" Because at this point, COME ON.
@@EthalaRideI do love some of those "do you know who I am stories". Reminds me of a few other stories like one where a former special forces veteran was forced to take a basic firearms test because they didn't beleive he knew how to operate a firearm, or another story where some young men tried picking a fight with Jack Dempsey (former world heavy weight boxing champion), or a similar story (not to his face) where people questioned why Cus Dimato (sp?) knowledge of boxing (trained Tyson and impressed Ali repeatedly), or that time an idiot told Stephen King he didn't know about literature and should read a book because he didn't recognize him
I'm English, come from a family of vets and have never heard of this guy, I was born in the early 80s, I feel let down (by my nation's education system) that an American (no insult intended, love your content) had to teach me this. This story, especially told the way it was in this video is inspiring. How many kids dealing with mental health issues, disability, depression, puberty hormones would be inspired by this whole story including the fokker part. Thank you for revealing a real hero to me.
Tbf no countries history lessons will teach you about individual, pilots, soldiers or seamen unless they have a greater effect
So its nothing to do with our education system
Topics like these are more of a deep dive topic.
@@mk_gamíng0609 TFH u have a point, g;ad i never learnt in history otherwise never would have enjoyed the vid so much
Really? We were taught about him in Junior school as an inspirational figure.
I was born in the mid 50s, and grew up watching the 1956 B&W film "Reach for The Sky" many, many times. There were so many war films and programmes on the TV, kids knew all about WW2. We read war comics and built plastic kits of Spitfires and tanks. Then Star Wars happened and everything changed.
I first learned and read about Baader when I was 10 years old. I was exposed to a lot of things then that children today are not ever exposed to. I heard the stories of two world wars from the men who lived them.
Let’s go love this guy he inspired my grandfather to join the RAF even if it was briefly before going to the HMS.
Msgt Roy Benavidez should be next. Survived a landmine and 37 bullet, bayonet and shrapnel wounds after a 6hr fight. Another legendary Green Beret Texan.
Yes, yes, yes, and YES!
INDEED
Agreed
F yeah! This needs to be made...
I’ve never heard of him, but I know I’m gonna love the man
In one of your other videos, someone said "If this guy was a history Teacher, no one would miss a class" I agree. You make it real. And I am a Military Historian. I would have finished High School if you were my History Teacher... I'm an old man now. Talk about the Wind Talker.
Thanks bro
There's a book called "Life's Too Short To Cry" written by a Battle of Britain ace Tim Vigors who was interestingly enough an Irishman fighting with the RAF. He served under or with Bader under 222 Squadron, and in an effort to be the fastest crew during a night scramble Bader devised a plan where Tim was in a bunk on one side of Bader with one of his prosthetic legs, and another pilot was on the other side of Bader with his other prosthetic leg and I believe they eventually had the system down where they were the fastest crew for a scramble. 10/10 would recommend reading/listening to that book as it tells another amazing story of a RAF ace.
Imma check it out thanks man
They literally had a guy on either side to help Bader leg it to the planes.
Thank you for sharing!
It was not uncommon for Irishman to fight with the British in WW2 (Excluding northern Irish cause well of course it was common)
Many Irishman felt like Ireland standing by doing nothing while Hitler committed great evil was something they could not sit idly by so many joined the Northern Irish Regiments , RAF or the navy .
The sad part is how they were treated by the Irish when they returned
They had land taken from them
Abandoned by families (Most out of fear of retaliation)
So they either stayed and suffered until Ireland wiped there records (Too late most of there lives were ruined)
Or go to the UK where they were treated as heroes by the so called enemy
@@mk_gamíng0609 I call bullshit
I briefly met Douglas Bader as a kid in the 1960s when he came to our town to meet up with a young boy who had become a double amputee after an accident. He stopped to ask for directions and we chatted for a little while. He did seem quite formal and reserved but that would have been quite normal for a man of his age at the time - especially one with a background in the Forces. I would have had no idea who he was if not for a local newspaper running an article on his visit. I believe he stayed in touch with the lad he visited for years by letter.
Reminds me of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who I had the incredible honor to interview one time. Sick and tired of his frostbitten fingers, he went to the shed and cut them off. Annoyed by the construction of an ugly concrete damn near his home in the UK, he decided to blow it up. Got kicked out of the SAS for that one. Also went to both poles, served in Oman and climbed Everest. Absolute gentleman and madman.
Definitely a main character
I'm a 71-year-old great-grandmother and I love your videos because I've always been interested in World War I and World War II . I've subscribed and rang the bell. God Bless you
My favorite part of Bader's story is that after the war, Britian's Southern Railway built a series of steam locomotives known as the "Battle of Britain Class." Each locomotive was named for officers, squadrons, and RAF bases that had participated in the battle. When the locomotive named "Fighter Pilot," number 21C155 was commissioned, Bader was invited to the christening ceremony as a guest of honor. He was even allowed into the cab and took the throttle for the loco's maiden run.
That’s so cool
Funny how that class of Locomotives never had an engine named 303 Squadron, that RAF 303 Squadron shot down more enemy aircraft during the battle than any other and lost fewer pilots. Why did they not name a locomotive, nothing to do with the fact that the pilots were Polish Refugees was it???
Not forgetting that 303 joined the battle halfway through, flying Hurricanes.
That quote about Messerschmitts had me rolling. I have said before, I'll say it again: If history were taught like this in schools, maybe kids would have a better understanding and therefore a greater appreciation of history.
If you can't tell a story that grabs kids' attention, you have no business teaching history. Both of my parents were teachers, so I knew whose class to take.
The way he was treated reminds me of a quote “People love to see you work hard but hate seeing you doing better than them!”
You are truly bringing history to life. If teachers taught like you entertain, this country would be a much smarter place. Thanks for what you do!
"He was literally a legless man in the biggest ass-kicking contest the world has ever seen... and he was WINNING!" had me rolling! 😆😅🤣😂
Oh my god lol… so, this is officially one of my favorite videos you’ve made because the last minute or so contained one of my dads favorite “jokes” that I never knew was at least based on a true story. The “those fuckers were Messerschmitts” line KILLS. My life is complete knowing that was a real interaction lol.
That was truly a golden moment!
Fokkers.....😂
@@grahampovey8073 lmao google says that Fokkers means “breeders”
I mean they aren’t wro-
@@Fanboy_of_everything haha...it would. Fokkers were WW1 biplanes and WW11 fighters, as in 'Fokker Dri.'
Damn bro! This Permasafe sponsorship hits close to home! Literally 3 mins and 47 seconds ago I was telling my wife that I checked the dishwasher filter and it is disgusting. I promised to clean it when I have some gloves.
PSA: Check and clean you dishwasher filter. Protect your hands with Permasafe gloves first.
Also, change your car’s cabin air filter!
Uh oh... what dishwasher filter??? Seriously? There's a filter?
Just a heads up some cars do not have a cabin air filter so refer to your owner's manual for the location or even if you have one
As a plumber I've never worn gloves or kneepads. PSA
never work with a plumber who uses gloves or kneepads 🤣
@@johngillespie3409 I’m not a plumber so, yeah… I’ll be donning gloves.
@@clonescope2433 I had the kid from O'Reilys looking for half an hour for the port to plug in and check the codes on my car. I do this occasionally to new kids at stores. My summer daily drivers are a 1965 GTO and a 1970 Cuda. To be fair, the Cuda does kinda sorta resemble the new Challengers and its the same green you can get on the Challenger.
Perhaps I should have them change the cabin air filter as well...
Damn, I should make a video of the next time I do that to a kid.
Amazing! So I just had some of the most nostalgic memories from this video. My dad always said the quote “These Fuckers were flying Messerschmitts.”
I didn’t know this is where that quote came from. You have made my day my friend!
Also what a great and inspiring piece of history. Absolute respect 🫡 for everyone who has served and who are serving in our military and our allies.
History + foul language + sarcasm = most brilliant and exciting history lesson ever. Thank you for your service, I absolutely love your content.
I recently bought a Pulaski from Warwood tools, (after your ad) and remembered the story behind the tool itself. Ed Pulaski was a U.S. Forest Service Ranger / Wildland Firefighter who gained his fame by holding a group of 20-or-so firefighters at gunpoint in a mine shaft while a fire raged just feet outside. By doing so, he saved many of them from an untimely and grim death-by-fire. He was there during the early years of the National Forests and was a key player in the events of the 1910 fire fittingly named "The Big Burn". There were many other brave men (such as Gifford Pinchot and Elers Koch) who battled this fire and were equally involved in the events. Now, I know this isn't military history, but seeing as how you often times talk about badasses in history, I thought I would give it a shot.
What was the name of the movie where they go to Russia and steal a spy plane? It would be awesome to get the real story! 😊
As a firefighter I would love that story being told, wasn't the Big Burn the biggest loss of life for firefighters until Storm King?
@@deanfirnatine7814 As I am just beginning my firefighting history journey, I am not currently aware of Storm King, although I will be sure to check it out when I have time. As to the death toll, I am also shamefully ignorant, but I’ll fix that. Thank you for all you do as a firefighter, I hope to become one myself someday.
@@paulvamos7319 Think you're referring to Clint Eastwood movie, "Firefox".
@@SamTanner-f8r I remember that Jack Nicholson played a General and he said "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
Respect for sharing the story of a British wartime hero, we learnt about him at school (I'm British and from the London area) Here is a quote that has stuck with me for years;
Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men- Sir Douglas Bader.
Pure gold, thank you!
I'd love to hear your take on the "Ye Olde Pub" incident, in which a German fighter pilot encountered a crippled B17 but instead of shooting it down and scoring an easy kill, escorted them to safety. The two pilots later became lifelong friends.
Ultimate gangster chess player.
Offering to let the opponent resign and escorting him to safety.
Reach for the Sky was a book (written by Brickhill) before it became a movie.
He toured US VA Hospitals and took interest in the amputees. He told one guy, who had lost a leg below the knee and was at a low point mentally, "You're lucky that you only lost one." The guy angrily snarled at him, said things that would get this post banned, and basically half shouted "what do you know about it?" Bader then walked over to a chair, sat down and pulled up his pants high enough to show that he had lost two! He did coach the guy a bit and let him know that he fought the Battle of Britain AFTER he had lost his legs, to inspire the man!
He also had written a boy who had to have a leg amputation while he was in Coldlitz Prison, encouraging him to learn how to walk and be active!
I still have the book in my bookcase. As a child, it was a read that I never forgot.
@@peterrollinson-lorimer I used to buy hardback copies (when I could find one in very good condition that I could afford) and give them out to Rehab centers. Both for the staff to read and for loans to a patient(s) and/or their family(ies)
When Bader went down, his plane was indeed recovered. The Germans recovered his prosthetic leg from the wreckage and gave it back to him. When he pointed out that it was damaged, the Germans did a little work on it and brought it up to serviceable condition.
I do wish the video covered a bit more about exactly what the kegs looked like and how they functioned etc
I read that too. He was touched by it, the work they put into the repair, the leather straps replaced, the craftsmanship.
if thats true, what about the whole story with the air dropped leg? this comment kinda puts much of the video's authenticity in question.
@@ez_company9325this comment only said a leg, it's possible that his other leg was damaged and fell off during his capture and they repaired it, it's also possible that their repairs weren't 100% correct or that despite the repairs it still wasn't in good enough shape for long term usage, or the recovered and repaired leg was the air dropped one, or this is false. I don't know the answer, but there was at least a recreation of the letter shown in the video.
Edit: that letter is around the 20:00 minute mark
@@ez_company9325 That part of the story is true, but there's more detail to it. The spot where the leg was bent never really worked right, so he asked the Germans if they could check on getting another. The Germans graciously offered to let a single British plane overfly the area and drop the leg, but not wanting the Germans to get any humanitarian ammo out of such a gesture, the RAF decided to include the leg in a regular bombing run. Worked like a charm.
A great story about Bader was that he heard about metal ailerons for the Spitfire, which did not balloon and cause slowdown in a dive.
So he flew to the engineering site, got them fitted and the next combat flight he outdived both the target ME109 AND HIS own Wingman!
Needless to say his report was less than truthful. An absolute legend!
My dear "Fat Electrician", whether or not YOU are an amputee, I feel that "Sir Douglas" would highly approve of your irreverent dialogue in the telling of his amazing story. Keep up the great work, as such spirit also thrives in peace time. So greatly enjoyed. John 🇨🇦
4:46 : "He just figured it out". Something to be said about a guy who trailblazes a path for others to follow in his footsteps... when he doesn't have any feet of his own.
I’ve personally met and had many conversations with one of the last surviving SeaBees from WWII. I even installed their garbage disposal 😂. This man even at 86? Years old (at the time) then… what a spitfire. He was the first elderly person I met that i not only looked up to, but I wanted to be him some day (and this was after being in the Marine Corps).
Lets just say the only person I ever heard talk shit about the Seabees got schooled by me and almost received an ass whoopin for good measure. Kids nowadays need REAL lessons in what being a badass really is!
Yep. Kids today strut around saying that they're badasses. If you have to tell people you're a badass then you're not.
I understand if you may not want to repeat it, but I'm curious as to what anyone could say about the Seabees that was negative or what exactly people say to ridicule or criticize them? I just couldn't really fathom what that could be? Thank you in advance, and it is fine if you don't want to repeat whatever someone said, but maybe a general idea of what people could possibly say or what they come up with to criticize or be disrespectful towards the Seabees or any similar groups?
As a Bee, we all wish we were as badass as the old ones, even just a quarter as badass.
My dad, a National Guard fighter pilot, gave me this book about Bader, Reach for the Sky, when I was 10. I've read it at least a dozen times over the last 50 years. The author, Paul Brickhill, also wrote The Great Escape. The irony of his lack of a leg keeping him alive when he bailed out has always been one of my favorite parts of his story.
When Douglas Bader was having his prosthetic legs made and fitted he gave the 'experts' hell telling them how they should be made and what length they should be etc. He really pioneered great process in this area. At that time they made the legs to be the same length, hardly anyone has legs the same length! Bader insisted that one of his legs should be (If I remember correctly) 2" shorter than the other so it could swing through easily. He is the only person in history to be able to walk independently on two (old style) prosthetic legs! He also tended to keep his upper body slightly forward to help is balance. I'm still not convinced that the 'experts' would agree with the way he did it - despite the fact it worked for a very long time. True hero in every sense of the word. He also spent a lot of time working with disadvantaged boys, helping them to aspire to more than society would have them be.
With all due respect to ALL of the men and women who've fought (and sometimes died), there's one man who you should absolutely recognize for this coming Christmas.
For all of the DECADES that he was active, as long as there were Americans fighting, he never spent a holiday at home. He was ALWAYS with them, helping morale, giving them a reason to keep going, despite never having served, himself, due to a childhood accident that nearly crippled him, when one knee was crushed while playing in a train yard.
When I was small boy, even into my teen years, he served the men and women in Vietnam. Before that he helped out in WW2 and Korea, and wherever men and women were stationed far from home. Eventually, the USAF gave him the honorary rank of full General, in recognition of his decades of selfless service to American servicemen and women....
.....General Bob Hope
Yes few people know thank you for bringing it up.
You gotta be pretty gangsta to be a civillian that gets bumped straight to General for what you've done.
Didn't know this, now, on to a Google rabbit hole I go! 😅
P.S. Appropriate last name is appropriate.
Absolutely
Amen! Hope brought laughter to generations of our warriors in the darkest times.
That would be so right! I really hope to see that video here; I know it would be excellent. General Bob Hope was on tour in Vietnam while my ship was in the Tonkin Gulf directing aircraft in and out of the fight. We never knew about that at the time though. I'd never heard about his "promotion." What a deserved acknowledgment! 👍
Having read the biography my grandparents had on this legend, I could not click faster on this video. Two things I liked from the book was that the Germans found his crashed aircraft and the broken prosthetic leg, and fixed it, so in addition to the one the British dropped, he had three of them.
The second was he demanded that he be able to go on walks through the German countryside (let that sink in for a minute), and when he was granted them, he would load his legs with food that he'd bring back into camp.
Yeah same here. I've read that book a few times now. I also try to shove a copy into the hands of everyone I know.
13:24 “…a legless man in the biggest ass kicking contest the world has ever seen.” 😂😂😂 my brother in Christ that is definitely one of your best one liners.
That man was very strong minded and determined,dedicated.
A man with great willpower and a willingness to serve his country to the best of his abilities. A REAL MAN.
Great history lessons for me. Thank you very much for your time and hard work getting the information like this out.
I read Bader's biography "Reach For The Sky" back when I was just a kid in the early 1970s. Totally amazing badass. Never let his limitations limit him. Thank you for telling his story to many folks who might not have heard of this legless Brit pilot.
Wow... And I COMPLETELY agree with how it's your subordinates that are a better show of your character than any peers or higher-ups. PERIOD.
They say if you treat your subordinates like your own loving children then they'll follow you into the deepest valley.
@@aztumtheknightofwumbo7060 Pretty true, you rely on them to keep you alive, and they rely on you to keep them alive.
It's like judging people on how they treat the waiter. People show their true character when they have authority over someone.
Disappointing how this mentality becomes rarer and rarer the higher the position someone has.
I care more ablit what my platoon thinks than what the co and 1sg think. May be why I dont make e8, but it is what it is
This guy had no one to give him a leg up, he was basically told to give up. At that point I would have been stumped how to get back onto my feet, but he did not stand for it. What a legend
I was lucky enough to have met Bader when I was a young Air Cadet he was very patient and friendly towards me and my squadron. He signed a copy of his autobiography it is one of my most prized possessions.
" That may be ma'am, but these fockers were meserschimts. " LOL! A quote from a hero that absolutely doesn't give a shit what other people think about him ! 😂
"Chubby electron guy"
That had me watch the whole ad for lols. Glad we have you blessing us with your videos.
That has been my favourite flying ace joke since I was a kid, I never knew who told it until today! Thanks Chubby Electron Guy!!
If you haven't covered Fighting Jack Churchill, then you should. Dude went into battle during WW II with a longbow, Scottish broadsword, and bagpipes. Dude was a bad ass.
There are some awesome stories about Bader in “The Latter Days of Colditz”. He gained a parole from the Castle Commandant to go on walks around the surrounding countryside, and so he’d go out on these walks with a fellow inmate, their secret pockets filled full of Red Cross and black market food, and basically seek to destroy the morale of the German civilians whilst gaining intelligence on the area at the same time.
When you say "secret pocket" are you referring to the anus?
Didn't they try to build a glider in order to fly out?
@@hccarder yep they created a false wall in an attic and built a workshop in the dead space. The glider was created out of bed boards and mattress covers and anything else they could steal\scrounge. The launching system was going to be a catapult system based around a bathtub full of concrete, descending at speed down the old clock tower shutes.
I wonder if it was Charles Upham.
Nic, you never cease to amaze me! You managed to get Raph and RAF in the same video. Never a dull moment, sir.
✌️😎
I didnt even realize lol
My teacher read us Bader's story when I was a young teenager. I thought it was exaggerated, until I saw the old guy demonstrate how he got into the cockpit in a video when he was ancient. As I remember it, one of his biggest struggles in life was figuring out how to play golf without falling over. The word 'legend' was created for the likes of this man.
Pretty sure I'm learning more history from your videos than I did in my history classes. Well done, sir!
They don't teach these in school and learning has never been so much fun! 😊
I would bet that the reason they don't want kids learning about these heroes is that they don't want people to have ambition anymore! 😢
9:03 i never thought of that and goddamn salute to the video game designers who put that much thought into a video game from the 90's
His abilities with the primitive artificial legs of the time were truly amazing. They were basically one step above peglegs, but the man made them act like his natural, quite athletic limbs. THAT is the achievement.
Reminds me of Gotz of the Ironhand
@@arkhaan7066I was just thinking of that guy! Renascence-Era Prosthetic with a spring-locked grip, was actually able to both fence with swords and pole arms up to zweihandler with it…rumoured to have cold cocked someone in the jaw his literal iron fist a few times, but even more in line with Sir Douglas Bader, would be the attitude and anti-hero status…the absolute irreverence for authority and social mores at the time. Dude told the goddamn Pope off multiple times, sided both with and against peasant uprisings depending on what he felt like that day, and was willing to throw hands (er…hand) with anyone who said he couldn’t fight on the frontlines anymore.
Also, the first verifiable source for a well known “colourful metaphor” that made it’s way not just into Deutsch, but also English, French, and many other languages:
“Lich meine arsch!” indeed!
23:50 “The lengths haters will go to just to hate never ceases to amaze me!”. Yup. It’s truly unbelievable. You put that much work and emotion to get better and you’ll stop being a hater. We’re all made in Gods image. No excuses. Go do the work. Don’t be intellectually lazy. Pick up heavy thing. It’s amazingly effective.
Don't hate the player, hate the game! I don't understand why so many people react like that to someone overcoming adversity and becoming among the best at whatever the job may be. Don't be a jealous crybaby, instead learn from them and study what made them so damn good at it and use that intel to elevate your own game! Thanks for another great story bro. As long as you keep pumpin em out you have a huge fan in me! 💯
Dogma, Jealousy, and Bureacracy. The biggest issues with war.
I was told, about two hours ago, that overcoming adversity and achieving something difficult, is only anecdotal to my own life. I replied that I am not the only one who thinks and acts that way, these people called MEN do it and perhaps the commenter should try being one.
"Why you mad, it only [ --game-- ] war?"
@@SweatyFatGuy amen
I was at primary (elementary) school in the late 1960's, and we were given his autobiography Reach For The Sky to read as an English language project. When we'd completed the book, Douglas Bader came to the school to tell us in person his remarkable story. I can remember sitting next to him on a bench during lunch break, and knocking on his prosthetics to make sure they really were false legs! He was a absolute legend 🙂
I was about to post the same, except it was the mid 70's. Honestly though, it was a little bit of a waste, I would have loved to have sat down and talked to the man when I was a teenager, heck now would be great.
He really stood up for himself...
I had the honour of waiting on him during a transatlantic crossing on the QE2 in 1975. As a 16 year old I had no idea who the gentleman with the wobbly leg was and one of the older waiters told me he was a famous fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. That explanation satisfied me at the time but when I later heard his whole story I was quite disappointed I didn't know back then. My recollection was of a friendly, polite and very well turned out gentleman often quietly eating alone. We owe that man so much, one of the Great Britain's.
To note, the Big Wing did have some very, very serious problems - although the base idea of "have a shitload of planes in the air" wasn't a bad idea, there were a lot of issues with implementation, and a lot of issues with Britain just not having the greatest planes for such a strategy in terms of fuel efficiency, being able to maneuver while in formation, and being protected enough from, say... someone flanking them, and the reason the strategy was only used five times is that it tended to just not be able to get off the ground and wasted a ton of RAF pilots in the process. It's considered fairly widely that the entire strategy was more for propaganda purposes than actual effectiveness, as Mallory was a thoroughly incompetent commander (who also fucked up Britain's air campaigns in several of its colonies, which eventually led to his death in an ironic fashion when he got sent to one of them) and most people were more focused on the people in command who had actual flight experience and were doing a lot more with a lot less, so he wanted more attention.
This doesn't reflect poorly on Douglas, mind you, but it's important context for why a lot of people would have been mad that he was sticking up for Mallory - because Mallory's position in the RAF was already a very polarizing one, and the strategy Douglas was propping up by supporting him was failing everywhere except in Britain itself, where it was a lesser priority than their main strategies.
You said it, Bader himself was a very brave man, a skilled pilot and obviously a beloved leader, but some of his theories on air defense, taken up by Lee Mallory cost alot of people their lives. And caused havoc for the two men who actually won the battle of britian, Sir's Dowding and Park.
I respect the man, doesnt mean i have to like him.
@@shaunpatterson9148 "Their strategies cost a lot of men their lives" Like what strategies has ever prevented death of the combatants on a mission? I'll wait. While I'm waiting, how many pilots died in the small formation groups. Was that strategy better?
@@rcstl8815 i never said men, i said people. Significant portions of the east side were heavily bombed when 11 group were fully engaged and called on 12 group who faffed about forming up the big wing. That or they didnt follow orders and went off on their own, allowing 11 group airfeilds to get smashed, like hornchurch on the 12th of September
@@rcstl8815 As i said, i think he is a very brave man, and i do definitely respect the man. but that doesnt mean i have to like him. I dont have to like his politics.
The fact is that if Britain put a lot of planes in the sky at the start they would have possibly had more losses than they could replace.
In 1976 my Grandfather went to a Commonwealth aircrew reunion.
One of the programs he kept from the reunion has the signatures of Sir Douglas Bader, Gen Jimmy Doolittle and a few others.
Its one of the more interesting random things I inherited.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy who was a MOH recipient in Afghanistan award posthumously for his sacrifice in Operation Red Wings. His story stands out from how his peers remember him throughout his early life before and his career during the military as a SEAL. The man absolutely laid it all down for his men and was the inspiration for the book and movie 'Lone Survivor'. I think he'd be a great fallen hero to cover.
This may be the best one yet! I was laughing out loud amid severe depression. Thank you for your videos
A quote that is attributed to Sir Douglas Bader is one of my favorites: "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men." My LT didn't like that quote very much...
A more inspirational one from him being: "Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do this or that. That’s nonsense. Make up your mind you’ll never use crutches or a stick, then have a go at everything… never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible."
Weather you think you can...or cant....you are correct.
@@heathb4319 I don't remember who said that before but it's absolutely right!! That's a quote to live by. 👍
Hey, no legs = less mass
Less mass = more speed
Also, no worries about blood reaching your legs during high G maneuvers if you don’t have any
Look Mom! No Legs!
Jeremy Clarkson approves this message.
@roykronvall3396 My genius, is almost frightening
@@LucasSantos-si4nd cheers 🍻 🤠🤠
Fun fact, there is a platform used by the RAF air cadets, which barely works called 'Bader' and the joke goes 'The name is quite appropriate, because both don't have legs'
Well, you certainly did your research on that one. I was born in 1955 and Douglas Bader was still a big hero during my schooldays. Like many here, I have read Reach For The Sky and watched the film. When I was around 21 years-old, I worked with an old guy who had been an aircraft fitter for Bader at Duxford. One day he attempted to help Bader up to the wing of his spitfire, at which point he was told very sternly, 'Take your hands off me.' Whatever he could do for himself, he did. I was also told that the respect that the ground crew had for Bader was massive. Well, it would be, wouldn't it?
"I am a peacock you gotta let me fly." another perfectly placed movie clip
I read his biography Reach for the sky, back in the day... you literally left off the best part... After he lost his legs and he took up golfing he had a terrible issue with standing when teeing off and also had a heck of a slice.. So he had one of his legs shortened. After doing that he could drive the ball straight as an arrow.
How much do I need to cut off, exactly? (asking for a friend that we call Ginsu)
@@ronjones-6977 lol.. I don't remember in the book how much he had taken off. but I believe it was the right leg. I also know that since he was a squadron leader his two initials DB were in front of the roundel (the RAF sign on the side of the plane) and his squadmates called him Dogs Body in a very twisted humor type of way. Its a really good book.. better than the movie actually.
This pilot sounded leaps and bounds over the entire RAF
We learnt about Douglas bader in junior school as an inspirational figure.
Hearing his story again reminded me of an amputee i met once at a country pub where he was prusiking up a tree. He'd lost his leg after a paragliding accident when he landed in a green house.
He had various legs for different activities: His climbing leg, his swimming leg, his running leg and his leg-over leg!😉🤣🤣🤣
I also knew another amputee who was a member of Cave Rescue and was still going down caves performing rescues in his 60s!
You couldn’t have found a more perfect way to end the video with the all-girls school bit. 😂😂😂 Textbook definition of a chef’s kiss moment!!!
That whole part had me on the floor 😂
Dude, love the fact youve covered Sir Douglas. Youre amazing presentation skills really did justice to his story. He is the very epitome of no such thing as excuses.
It's a fairly broad topic but maybe you could cover Operation Jedburgh. The many guys that operated as teams all over the various theatres of WW2 were truly amazing. Its fair to say that without these teams of UK, US and European operatives then D-Day would possibly have turned out very differently. They were so successful that Hitler extended his commando decree to include operatives captured from Jedburgh.
Hell yeah. Such a badass! I love who you choose to cover each week!
He was one of my boyhood heroes and later in life whilst working as a journalist I got the chance to meet him and observe him in unguarded moments. The result? He is STILL one of my heroes!
I absolutely love that you're so open and unabashed by the fact that you, like everyone else, have biases. Nobody on earth is immune to it- we all tell our own versions of stories. You, however, seem willing to embrace that vulnerability and keep on trucking. That's admirable! It's also informative to your audience that there's more to learn. You do good work! I hope to see more long-form videos because that's where you really shine in my opinion
I can't believe Bader ejected into enemy territory and thought he could just leg it back. Great story, great story telling! 07
Well it wasn’t really he thought it, as much as he knew he had no other choice then to try! What else is there? Not like someone is going to be coming to just pick you up in a few minutes.
@@gavincline209 I was just joking about him hopping back on one leg since he left the other in the plane.
A true British legend. Thanks for covering one of our heroes 🇬🇧🇺🇸
I read Douglas Baders book in jr high school. It propelled me on my way to a life long dream of becoming a military pilot. That book was required reading for my two sons, one of which is a military aircrew member. His courage to overcome and continue to bring the war to the enemy was an inspiration to me and mine. What a warrior! Thank you for telling his story, may it be an inspiration to future warriors. Well done marine!
If you didn't know the Germans got so upset at his repeated escape attempts they took away his legs. Him and his fellow POWs made such a fuss they were forced to give them back. Legend
"He's got a leg up." Dude I spit my coffee out on that one. Great episode.
Yeah, he stood up for all the leg-o-less people out there
I've written this 3 times already, but you have to look into Leo Major, the one eyed Canadian Rambo who liberated a city by himself. I would love to see a video on him!
Thanks for this mate.
I grew up listening to stories of Bader, Malan and Co. Really enjoyed this as it gave a fresh life to the tale.
FE, this has been one of my favorite stories you've brought to light. Keep it up, please!! 👍
I’m halfway through a full back tattoo of Battle of Britain featuring his squadron.
My grandfather knew him personally and bragged for as long as the man was alive that his famous pilot friend could probably run a marathon with no legs and win.
R.I.P. to the greatest generation.
Thank You for doing a video about one of us Brits and about someone who has been a personal hero of mine since I was a child.
Oh, and a crumpet is a bread based breakfast item.
Love all of your videos.
You have me in tears. Happy, laughing tears until the end when the main character passes or ‘joy’ where they are finally recognized for their heroism or sad because they pay the ultimate price. Thank you for what you do !
Those "fuckers" were messerschmitts, madame. Had me rolling. Another great vid FE