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Bader, [Sir] Douglas Robert Steuart Son of Frederick Roberts Bader and Jessie Scott­Mackenzie; married 1st, 1933, Olive Thelma Exley Edwards (died 1971); no children; 2nd, 1973, Mrs Joan Eileen Murray.	21.02.1910 Marylebone, London - 05.09.1982 London	F/O 06.06.1932 [26151] (retd 30.04.1933) (A?) F/Lt. 04.1940 (WS) F/Lt. 24.09.1940 (A) Sq.Ldr. 06.1940 (A) W/Cdr. 03.1941 (T) W/Cdr. 01.07.1945 (WS) W/Cdr. 01.12.1945 (A?) Gp.Capt. 06.1945 (retd 21.07.1946) Kt 12.06.1976 HM's birthday; for services to disabled people CBE 02.01.1956 New Year 56; for services to the disabled DSO 01.10.1940 * DSO 15.07.1941 ** DFC 07.01.1941 *** DFC 09.09.1941 **** MID 01.01.1941 ? MID 17.03.1941 ? MID 31.01.1947 ? LegH ? ? CdeG ? ? * This officer has displayed gallantry and leadership of the highest order. During three recent engagements he has led his squadron with such skill and ability that thirty-three enemy aircraft have been destroyed. In the course of these engagements Squadron Leader Bader has added to his previous successes by destroying six enemy aircraft. ** This officer has led his wing on a series of consistently successful sorties over enemy territory during the past three months. His high qualities of leadership and courage have been an inspiration to all. Wing Commander Bader has destroyed 15 hostile aircraft. *** Squadron Leader Bader has continued to lead his squadron and wing with the utmost gallantry on all occasions. He has now destroyed a total of ten hostile aircraft and damaged several more. **** This fearless pilot has recently added a further four enemy aircraft to his previous successes; in addition he has probably destroyed another four and damaged five hostile aircraft. By his fine leadership and high courage Wing Commander Bader has inspired the wing on every occasion.	Education: St Edward's School, Oxford; RAF College, Cranwell 26.07.1930 first commission 12.1931 lost both legs in flying accident 05.1933 invalided out of RAF 1933 joined Asiatic Petroleum Co. Ltd 26.11.1939 - 21.07.1946 recalled to active service 02.1940 - 04.1940 19 Squadron 04.1940 - 06.1940 Flight Commander, A Flight, 222 Squadron 06.1940 - ? Commanding Officer, 242 Squadron ? - 09.08.1941 Commanding Officer, 12 Group Wing 09.08.1941 - 15.04.1945 captured after collision with enemy aircraft over Bethune; released by American 1st Army from Colditz, near Leipzig 11.07.1940 30.08.1940 15.09.1940 27.09.1940 23 victories: 1 Do 17 ½ Bf 110 ½ Do 17 1 Bf 109 Rejoined Shell Petroleum Co. (late Asiatic Petroleum Co.); Man. Dir, Shell Aircraft Ltd, 1958-69, retd. Led first post­war Battle of Britain fly­past, 15 September 1945. Member, Civil Aviation Authority, 1972-78; Chaiman, Flight Time Limitations Board, 1974-78. FRAeS 1976. Hon. DSc New Univ. of Ulster, 1976. DL Greater London, 1977. Published: Fight for the sky : the story of the Spitfire and the Hurricane (1973) Literature: Paul Brickhill, Reach for the sky

Column 1
Here the last name and full first names are given, followed (when applicable) by titles of nobility. Titles like "Sir" are placed between square brackets [] when the person was knighted after 1945. A first name in italics is the name by which one is generally known. A nickname is added in apostrophes.

Column 2
A date & place of birth are given when known, a question mark when not known, and a year with question mark when guessed. A month with question mark between round brackets indicates the quarter of the year ending with that month in which the person was born. E.g. (06?).1901 indicates that the person was born in 1901 in either April, May or June. When the first quarter of a year is indicated (with the month of March), there is also a slight possibility that the person was born in December of the year before.
A date of death is given when known. Place of death is indicated when known, or when not exactly known the last known place of residence, which in some (or most) cases may be the place of death as well. When known the last resting place is also indicated, or the Naval Memorial where the person is commemorated. If there's an indication the person was still alive at some date, this can also be indicated. Places of birth & death given are in many cases the wider areas / districts and not necessarily the smallest (exact) geographical location.

Column 3
Ranks
Ranks are given in sequence from lowest to highest (when known). When known, a date has been added to the rank. This date of promotion is the administrative date and doesn't necessarily indicate an actual date. E.g. someone is promoted Lieutenant on 01.01.1940, but receives a correction on this date somewhere in 1942 (in stead of a promotion), backdating his promotion to 01.01.1939. Such cases, when known, are indicated with "backdated". Between two promotions officers can hold an "acting" rank (indicated with "(A)"). This can either be a temporary "acting" rank (for the duration of a certain posting only) or a substantive "acting" rank (kind of an in-between promotion). Only the substantive acting ranks are indicated by an exact date; temporary ranks either by a period or a guessed date/year (indicated with a question mark). Retired officers are indicated with (retd). Did an officer retire after being promoted to a certain rank, than (retd) is placed after the date. Was he promoted while being on the Retired List, then (retd) is placed before the date. Most retired officers listed here were activated upon the beginning of hostilities in 1939, and were reverted to the retired list either during the war, or upon the cessation of hostilities in 1945. The highlighted rank is the highest rank achieved in wartime (between Sept 1939-Aug 1945).

Decorations
Decorations are given in a somewhat random order; I've tried to put the higher ones on top, with the foreign awards at the bottom. Foreign awards and other honours can also be indicated below the decorations box. When known, of each decoration the ribbon has been given, the abbreviation, the date (mostly the date of gazetting in the London Gazette) and the action for which the decoration was awarded. Behind the icon (place your pointer on the icon and wait a few seconds) the full title of the decoration (and when applicable the class within the order) is given. For some decorations, such as the Victoria Cross, the citation for the award has also been reproduced.

Column 4
Here the career of the officer is given, starting (when known) with his education. In small print on a white background the information of his career before and after the period of 1939-1945 has been given. In larger print on a grey background his wartime career is shown. When known, a year or date is indicated. Dates between rounded brackets indicate that the person was at least serving on that date in the given posting, but exact information about when started or ended fail. E.g. 1942-(05.)1943 indicates that the person served in a certain posting in the years 1942-1943, and in an effort to specify it a bit more it is indicated that he at least still served in May 1943. The available Air Force Lists have no details about specific appointments (apart from some staff appointments), so you will find generally very little details here.
Underneath the career box details are given about a possible civil career and social & honorary positions.

Abbreviations