A memorial service to honour the life of Douglas Bader was held at St. Clement Danes (the central church of the Royal Air Force) The Strand, London on October 22 1982.
15th September 1945. Group Captain Douglas Bader in a Supermarine Spitfire, led the 'Battle of Britain Day' Anniversary flypast over London flying from North Weald aerodrome.
He died as he was being driven home after giving an after-dinner speech at the Guildhall in London.
He was a major supporter of the apartheid system in South Africa, and Ian Smith's white minority regime in Rhodesia.
His close friendship with several unrepentant Nazi war criminals including Hans-Ulrich Rudel caused some controversy in the 1970s.
He was accused of making racist remarks about Africans during the Suez Crisis.
He controversially advocated the costly "Big Wing" strategy during the Battle of Britain.
In real life he was nothing like the jovial character played by Kenneth More in "Reach for the Sky".
A staunch supporter of capital punishment.
He wanted Air Officer Commanding RAF Fighter Command Hugh Dowding and Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park replaced after the Battle of Britain.
It is considered likely he was shot down by a British pilot in August 1941, although this claim was never officially investigated.