The Secret Behind the Most Unexpected WW2 Flying Killer

Loud, crass, and witty, Douglas Bader was a true phenomenon in the air. With unparalleled flying prowess, he rapidly won over the initially skeptical 242 Squadron.

Sir Alan Smith, a fellow World War 2 ace, summed it up: [QUOTE] "You knew you were flying with an ace in every sense of the word, a bloke who knew exactly what he was doing, who was on the ball, was afraid of nothing, and a great leader."

Bader himself sometimes defied the Royal Air Force's strictest commands and strategies, showcasing audacious leadership. With an impressive victory count, he quickly became an iconic legend of World War 2, and he did it all under extraordinary circumstances.

After an aircraft crash claimed both of his legs, he had two prosthetics made and worked his way back to the skies.

---

Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.