1954 Douglas Bader His Life Story Reach For The Sky by Paul Brickhill

A hardback book 1954 Douglas Bader His Life Story Reach For The Sky by Paul Brickhill with paper dust cover. The dust cover is in fair condition with scuffs, yellowing and a tear. The blue hardback is in good condition with some yellowing to the pages, particularly at the edges.

The film, Reach for The Sky, starring Kenneth Moore in the role of Douglas Bader, is based on this biography by Paul Brickhill. Brickhill also wrote, ‘The Dam Busters’ and ‘The Great Escape.’

This book is a sixth impression of the first edition published in August 1954. It was presented to the owner, Michael Mahon, as a school prize for coming third in the Upper Sixth form in 1954 at Thornleigh Salesian College: A Roman Catholic Secondary School in Bolton, Lancashire, founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Douglas Bader

Anyone who knows their WW2 history and the RAF heroes of the “Battle of Britain’ could not have failed to have heard of Douglas Bader. The enigmatic and brave RAF Fighter Pilot, whom lost his legs in a dare devil RAF aerobatics display, and was discharged from the RAF due to his perceived insurmountable disability. Not taking this at face value, Bader acquired a pair of prosthetic legs and learned to walk and fly again. Ultimately, he gained command of his own squadron and was noted for the risks he took on mission. Eventually his luck ran out and he was shot down whilst on a sortie over France. He survived and was sent to a succession of POW camps where he was notorious for his numerous escape attempts!

A wonderful bibliography about an amazing time in history and the story of one man who would not be thwarted by his disability.

Summary

• Title: Reach For The Sky. The Story Of Douglas Bader by Paul Brickhill
• Published by Collins, St James’s Place, London
• 1954 First Edition, Sixth Impression
• Contains Approx. 20 photographs
• 384 pages
• Approx. Size
  • Height: 21cm
  • Width: 14.8cm
  • Depth: 3cm

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