BADERS SPITFIRE WING

On August 30, 1940, at the peak of the Battle of Britain, RAF Fighter Command's No. 12 Group was tasked with reinforcing 11 Group and intercepting a Luftwaffe raid on an aircraft factory at Hatfield. Douglas Bader, a swashbuckling fighter pilot without legs, submitted a report arguing that more fighters would lead to greater enemy execution. Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory supported Bader's proposal and authorized him to lead three, then five, squadrons, forming the Duxford Wing or Big Wing. Bader and the Big Wing played a significant role in defending Britain's skies throughout 1940. In March 1941, the role of Wing Commander (Flying) was created, and Bader was appointed as one of the first wing leaders. He chose to command the Tangmere Wing based on the South Coast, which was at the forefront of the RAF's battle against the Luftwaffe. The Tangmere Wing played a crucial role in the RAF's efforts to take the offensive to the Luftwaffe across the English Channel. However, Bader lost his life in action in August 1941. Dilip Sarkar's book, "Bader's Spitfire Wing," explores the story of the men and machines of the Tangmere Wing in 1941, including their controversial use, and investigates their role in the RAF's efforts to take the offensive. Sarkar is a prolific author and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, with a focus on the human experience of war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: PEN & SWORD BOOKS

On August 30, 1940, at the peak of the Battle of Britain, the pilots of RAF Fighter Command's No. 12 Group were tasked with reinforcing 11 Group and intercepting a Luftwaffe raid on an aircraft factory at Hatfield. The events of that day led the daring, legless fighter pilot Douglas Bader to submit a report arguing that the more fighters he had at his disposal, the greater the enemy's execution that could be achieved. This concept received support from 12 Group's Air Officer Commanding, Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory. In Bader's proposal, Leigh-Mallory saw an opportunity for 12 Group to play a greater part in what was clearly an historic battle. Leigh-Mallory authorised Bader to lead three, then five, squadrons - a controversial formation that came to be known as the Duxford Wing or Big Wing.

For the rest of 1940, Bader and the Big Wing, then based at Duxford, played their part in the defence of Britain's skies. Then, in March 1941, the role of Wing Commander (Flying) was created. This was the fighter pilot's dream appointment because the Wing Leader's sole responsibility was leading his wing in action, unfettered by tedious administration and logistical matters. Needless to say, Douglas Bader was amongst the first wing leaders. He was even given the choice of which Wing he preferred. He chose to take command of that based at Tangmere on the South Coast - right at the fore of the RAF's battle against the Luftwaffe.

In Bader's Spitfire Wing, Dilip Sarkar not only explores the full story of the men and machines of the Tangmere Wing in 1941, as well as the controversy that surrounds their use, he also fully investigates the part that they played in the RAF's efforts to take the offensive to the Luftwaffe on the opposite side of the English Channel.

Weight: 890g
Dimension: 166 x 242 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399017053