Inspirational WWII PilotMy Mum bought me this book when I was about 12 or 13. I still have it on my bookshelves, and the sight of where she cut off the corner of the paper cover, where the price had been, with her pinking shears, brings back fond memories.As for the book: it is the inspirational true story of WWII RAF fighter pilot, Group Captain Sir Douglas (Dogsbody) Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL.Despite losing both his legs during peacetime, he signed up again when the Second Wor...

Quite simply - a brilliantly told story about a brilliant man.

An inspirational, fantastic book!This book describes Douglas Bader's life as a child, through school, to RAF Cranwell (pilot training school), his accident, recovery, back to civvy street, back in to the RAF and pitting himself successfully against the Germans, his exploits as a prisoner of war and some of his post war occupations/experiences.And most of the above was carried out without any legs!It is quite staggering what he achieved. To get to Group Captain and inventing a whole school of tho...

"Reach for The Sky", Paul Brickhill, 1954. The air to air combat descriptions are absolutely superb. Obviously Brickhill worked closely with Douglas Bader while writing his biography. If I weren't already familiar with the legendary ace's ultimate fate, it would have been difficult to predict his future by reading the first few chapters. While stunting, Bader clips a wing tip and cartwheels his biplane. Both of his legs are amputated. Years later, after being re-qualified, he mistakenly takes of...

Not just a World War Two epic, documenting the incredible Battle of Britain exploits of Wing Commander Douglas Barder, but one of the most intimate biographies produced by Paul Brickhill, himself an Australian fighter pilot shot down and taken prisoner to Stalag Luft III, which produced 'The Great Escape' in 1949. He was also the author of other WWII classics as 'The Dam Busters', 'Escape or Die' as well as 'Reach for the Sky' from 1954.How many times have I watched the films made from these pub...

42 WORD REVIEW:Brickhill is firmly eulogistic (though not without cause) in detailing the extraordinary feats of double-amputee fighter pilot Douglas Bader, and also something of English life itself in the interwar period and during World War II. Robert Hardy’s audiobook reading captures the spirit.

Simply amazing!

A good and interesting read.

Reach For The Sky, by Paul Brickhill was first published in 1954. It tells the story of Douglas Bader a British ace who lost both legs as a result of some aerobatics in a plane crash in 1931. Despite his incredible disability, when England declared war on Nazi Germany, Douglas convinced the British RAF to recommission him as a flyer in September 1939. Commanding many different squadrons, Captain Bader flew both hurricanes and spitfires for the RAF throughout the Battle of Britain. “Old emotions

Indefatigable is the way I would describe my understanding of Douglas Bader. An inspiration at the highest level to millions the world over. Paul Brickhill, the author of this magnificent work certainly knew how to capture not only the story of this great man but his heart and spirit also. By the end of the book, you felt you knew this brave man intimately and if not, you certainly wish you did. I was fascinated all the way through and Brickhill's prose was so beautifully felt. For example, "But...

Great though I think the film is, books usually contain a little more detail and that is true here. Brickhill tells an amazing story very well, with just the right mix of action, suspense, humour and literary style. As he also wrote the Great Escape and the Dambusters, he clearly knows his onions yet never bogs the story down with detail or jargon. This ought to be on the school curriculum in UK. Quite brilliant. 5/5

This is one of the best biographies I’ve read in a while. Following a terrible accident, Douglas Bader loses both of his legs, but refuses to let his disability slow him down. He drives cars, flies fighter planes, and constantly surpasses others’ expectations. His optimism and refusal to give up is an inspiration.

An inspiring story of a man overcoming having both his legs amputated to become a fighter pilot. He even escapes from the Nazis. He is an inspiration and a bit of a jerk. He seems like an actual, living, breathing person. Well written and fun to read.

This is the remarkable story of Douglas Bader, an RAF pilot during the Second World War who became an ace despite having lost both legs in an airplane crash. The fighter tactics he devised helped win the Battle of Britain. A stirring and inspiring story of triumph over adversity.

The story itself is amazing and remarkable. The writing is a little dry and lots of unfamiliar war terms that were hard to follow. Overall inspirational, particularly for anyone overcoming adversity.

My copy is published in this year (1954) but by Collins. Dust cover looks like that shown. A classic biography - of a different time but one we should remember an evaluate for ourselves. Read the book even if you have seen the film.

The life of Douglas Bader, who lost both legs and went on to be a WWII ace, best flight leader and tactician of aerial combat. A prisoner of war and a man who used his disabilities to help others overcome their remorse over their own disabilities.

A highly readable and influential book that led to a film and the bringing of Sir Douglas Bader's exploits to a wider audience.It's a tremendous account of a inspirational man who overcame adversity and reads as well today as when it was first published in the 1950s.

How someone is able to overcome adversity and achieve their dreams and be a great example to others

Life Story of Douglas Bader - hero who, without legs, became a WW2 fighter pilot - went on to accomplish great achievements in his life - very inspirational.

Magnificent story of tenacity, stubbornness and courage.

Loved it I read it when I was 13 it inspired my lifelong love of aviation

Listened on audio. An oldie but a goodie! Well told tale of a man fighting to overcome all odds, with details of actual battles and other real events in WW2 told from an individual's point of view.

Read this one years ago, great inspirational true story about a World War II pilot with 2 tin legs!

Great story about an inspirnational man

Read as a child and was an inspiration to me becoming a flyer.

This is a classic 'boys own' adventure story of a hero of the Battle of Britain, first published in 1954. It's the story of Douglas Bader - cricketer, rugby champion and larrikin hero. In wartime he became a fighter ace, credited with around 30 victories over the Luftwaffe. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". Shot down over oc...

The story of Douglas Bader is one of those that "you just couldn't make up." I have known the story since early childhood, having watched the film starring Kenneth More at least ten times.Reading the book gives a bit more context to Bader's story. It is well-written and gripping and has stood the test of time. Even though you know he'll survive, the early part of the book describing the crash and Bader on the brink of death in hospital has your heart racing. The middle section of the story is a

Reach for the Sky is a real life story about Douglas Bader, man who lost both of his legs in flying accident and still became one of the greatest pilots in the world. His story is inspiring in so many different ways. His journey through all the difficulties and his time in German prisons would be worth to read even without him losing both of his legs, but that makes it even more important.Douglas Bader gives important lesson to everyone about the willpower. He knew what he wanted and kept trying...

The Incredible Story of Douglas Bader – the Legless Ace. Is it possible for someone without legs to be a fighter pilot, let alone doing anything physical? It seems not, until we read incredible story that Paul Brickhill has written wonderfully. The most amazing thing I find about when Douglas Bader lost his legs in an air crash, was his reaction. It seemed he took it just like he had chipped a nail and not to think of himself as handicapped. During his recovery and adjustment to life with artifi...