What is the name of this book?

March 7, 2006 3:45 AM

Name (or author of) of a biographical book about a RAF pilot in WW2 who loses both legs in an accident, but goes on to fly in combat and ends up in a POW camp, which he then manages to escape from.
posted by azuma to Writing & Language (11 answers total)

You are thinking of Douglas Bader and his book was called Reach for the Sky. There was also a movie of the same name starring Kenneth More.

After an escape attmept, the German guards took away his "tin" legs as punishment !
posted by 543DoublePlay at 3:57 AM on March 7, 2006

I don't know which book it is specifically, but I'm going to guess it's about Douglas Bader. I still remember learning about him in RE the best part of 20 years ago.

On Googling... Reach for the Sky?
posted by Leon at 3:59 AM on March 7, 2006

I think you're probably looking for Reach For The Sky which was also made into a film starring Kenneth More. My Grandad used to work with Bader at Biggin Hill so he was a bit of a family legend!
posted by merocet at 4:00 AM on March 7, 2006

Reach For The Sky is an excellent film, but an even better book.

There's a bit in the book where, in order to be able to drive with his false legs, he has to have the pedals in his car swapped around. The mechanic who had to deliver the car after the modifications had to drive with his legs crossed because using the wrong feet for the clutch and accelerator was too confusing.
posted by veedubya at 4:36 AM on March 7, 2006

Indeed - definetly Douglas Bader. I love the bit in the film where he teaches himself to play golf, despite falling over time and time again.
posted by prentiz at 4:51 AM on March 7, 2006

Best answer: ...coming back across the Channel after a mission, Bader would flip back the canopy of his Spitfire, unclip his oxygen mask and, while holding the stick between his good knee and his tin knee, light up his pipe.
posted by the cuban at 5:07 AM on March 7, 2006

Bader was finally put in Colditz castle, the place that all the "repeat escapers" ended up. The RAF actually airdropped a new set of tin legs to him to replace a damaged or "confiscated" pair I think.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 5:34 AM on March 7, 2006

I remember reading about him in Escape from Colditz. Great book.
posted by mdiskin at 5:46 AM on March 7, 2006

Incidental story: many years ago, a friend of mine told me that her father was a senior guy in the RAF who got a request from the Germans via the Red Cross for a new set of tin legs for Douglas Bader. The story goes that her father *somehow placed a telephone call* to his Luftwaffe counterpart and arranged for a Mosquito fighter-bomber to be given clearance to fly over Germany and drop the legs by parachute. The Germans gave the plane a fighter escort.

Her father was called on the carpet by Churchill for "fraternizing with the enemy".

I was amazed that in WWII a phone call between the two sides could even be placed, and more amazed at the reaction by both sides.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 6:07 AM on March 7, 2006

By some accounts Bader was not a very nice man. His batman during his POW captivity used to tell a story, but I have forgotten it - was in the C4 series Reputations I think. Anyone recall?
posted by A189Nut at 6:11 AM on March 7, 2006

A189Nut: Alex Ross. He was eligible for repatriation as a non-combatant, but Bader stepped in to prevent it. "'You came here as my skivvy and that's what you'll stay,' he told Ross."

(This question inspired me to do some digging... people are complex things.)
posted by Leon at 6:37 AM on March 7, 2006