Douglas Bader Biography

[johnnyfalcon]

Recently when visiting my parents I noticed that Dad had a copy of Reach for the Skies, the Douglas Bader biography, in his bookcase. I took the opportunity to read it as the last time I'd done so was when I was 12 years old.

More recently Dad has passed away and I'm progressively helping Mum sort Dad's things out. It was during this sort out that it came to my attention that the title page of Dad's copy of this book appears to have been autographed by Douglas Bader himself.

Observations?

[flyjoe180]

Wow, that is something very special indeed. Keep that in a very safe place.

[angelsonefive]

Douglas Bader visited NZ on at least one occasion that I know of.

I remember him addressing the public at an airshow in Palm. North in Nov., 1956.

This was the day that the NZDCA DC-3 ZK-AXS aquaplaned off the end of a wet runway after landing and finished up in a car parking area.

That is a valuable item you have there.
I know you will take good care of it.

[johnnyfalcon]

I didn't know he visited NZ. This copy is the October 1955 edition, the first being March 1954. I'm unsure what Mum is going to do with it - she is a bookworm but has no interest in aviation, but I have alerted her to the significance of the autograph! Happily, she has a great love of anything historical.

Are there any pics out there of the DC3 mishap?

[Dave Homewood]

I'd be keen to hear more about Bader's visit. Was it an official visit with other engagements or just a holiday? I didn't know he'd been here either.

Maybe he was visiting his kiwi mate that alledgedly and almost assuredly shot him down, Buck Casson?

[angelsonefive]

I am sure I have seen somewhere on the 'net a copy of a newspaper pic. of the DC-3 with the leading edge of one wing showing some damage.

It may have been on this forum.

[angelsonefive]

Apr 23, 2012 22:51:14 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I'd be keen to hear more about Bader's visit. Was it an official visit with other engagements or just a holiday? I didn't know he'd been here either.

Maybe he was visiting his kiwi mate that alledgedly and almost assuredly shot him down, Buck Casson?

I have a feeling Bader was on a speaking tour of the country.
It may have been sponsored by the British Govt or Shell Oil for whom Bader worked. Possibly a joint venture.

I thought the guy who is thought to have shot the tail off D.B.'s Spitfire was a Canadian.

[Dave Homewood]

No, a kiwi I believe.

[angelsonefive]

It appears that we were both wrong, Dave.

All the references I could find in an hour's Googling indicate that Flt. Lt Lionel H. (Buck) Casson was from the UK.

Served as P/O in 616 and 615 Sqdns during the B of B, shot down over France on 9 August, 1941 in the same action, it appears, as DB was brought down, and made POW.

Attained Squadron Leader and awarded the DFC and AFC before leaving the RAF. Passed away in 2003.

Link to picture of Buck Casson here :

www.dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk/bardar.htm

[phil82]

I saw a photo of Bader as recently as yesterday..he was at Christchurch Airport 1956.

[Dave Homewood]

OK, so another thing I read on the internet was wrong. You're correct AOF, Casson was a Pom. Here's his Telegraph Obit.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1444117/Squadron-Leader-Buck-Casson.html

There was a fascinating thread on the FlyPast Forum about the documentary Who Downed Douglas Bader, in which i read he was a kiwi. The entire thread seems to have disappeared for some reason. It's a very good doco by the way.

[sparrow]

Fantastic find,glad it's in good hands.

I have a doco on disc,but it's a copy and just has 'Bader's spit' written in marker on it. Off work on Wednesday,so will have a look at it.