Airfix 1/48 Legends - Douglas Bader - Triple Pack # 40101

SKU

AFX40101

May Release Due Soon!!

Type:

1/48 Aircraft

EAN

5063129053673

Special Price £80.99 was £89.99

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Details

This remarkable Legends triple pack honours the bravery and resolve of Britain's renowned fighter pilot, Douglas Bader, featuring three intricately designed 1/48 scale aircraft kits.

Comprising 414 pieces in total, this commemorative set includes the Gloster Gamecock, Bristol Bulldog, and Supermarine Spitfire - the aircraft that marked Bader's distinguished career from his beginnings at Cranwell to leading the victory flypast over London at the war's conclusion.

Key Features
- Three complete 1/48 scale aircraft kits celebrating Douglas Bader's legendary service
- 414 pieces in total offering a captivating building experience
- Skill level 3 suitable for modellers aged 8 years and older
- Includes the Bristol Bulldog, the aircraft that defined Bader as an airman
- Features aircraft from his early RAF service to his wartime achievements
- High-quality plastic construction with precise detailing
- Single comprehensive paint scheme to ensure historical accuracy

History
When Britain faced the formidable German war machine alone, heroes were needed to inspire the nation - individuals like Douglas Bader.

Bader joined the Royal Air Force in 1928, known for his athletic prowess and thrill-seeking nature, although he found the academic demands at Cranwell challenging.

Commissioned in July 1930, he was assigned to No.23 Squadron at Kenley, flying the Gloster Gamecock and later the Bristol Bulldog, one of the era's most advanced fighter planes.

Although Bader's wartime achievements and aerial victories are associated with both the Spitfire and Hurricane, it was the Bulldog biplane that truly defined his early career.

During an unplanned visit to the Reading Aero Club on 14th December 1931, despite being expressly forbidden from performing low altitude aerobatics in the Bulldog, Bader disregarded these orders after being provoked by fellow aviators.

Executing a series of impressive manoeuvres, his aircraft, flying just above the ground, clipped the earth with its wingtip during a slow roll, causing it to cartwheel across the field, resulting in severe injuries to Bader, much to the onlookers' horror.

Despite losing both legs, Bader was resolute in his desire to return to the Royal Air Force, and with the onset of the Second World War, he was given the opportunity.

He flew both the Spitfire and Hurricane in combat, achieving 22 aerial victories before being forced to eject from his Spitfire over France, becoming a prisoner of war on 9th August 1941.

Douglas Bader's tale of bravery and perseverance inspired Britain during its darkest times, and when the victory flypast occurred over London at the war's end, it was Bader who led the formation in a Spitfire.

BAE SYSTEMS is a registered trade mark of BAE Systems plc.

More Information

More Information
SKU	AFX40101
Manufacturer	Airfix
Scale	1/48
EAN	5063129053673
Short Description	Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader (1910–1982) was one of the most famous Royal Air Force fighter pilots of the Second World War — renowned not only for his combat record, but for flying with two artificial legs. Early Life & Loss of His Legs Bader joined the RAF in 1928 as a pilot officer. In 1931, while performing unauthorised aerobatics at low altitude, he crashed and lost both legs — one above the knee and one below. Doctors initially believed he would never fly again. Refusing to accept this, Bader learned to walk — and drive — on prosthetic limbs. When the RAF expanded in the late 1930s as war loomed, he successfully lobbied to be reinstated. Against expectations, he returned to active flying duty in 1939. Battle of Britain & Combat Record Flying first the Hawker Hurricane and later the Supermarine Spitfire, Bader became a leading advocate of the “Big Wing” formation during the Battle of Britain. He was officially credited with: - 22 aerial victories - 4 shared victories - 6 probable victories - 11 damaged His aggressive leadership and confidence made him a prominent and sometimes controversial figure within Fighter Command. Capture & POW Years In 1941, Bader was shot down over occupied France after a mid-air collision during combat. Captured by the Germans, he became a persistent escape risk. The Luftwaffe even arranged safe passage for a replacement artificial leg to be dropped for him. After multiple escape attempts, he was eventually sent to Colditz Castle, the high-security POW camp for the most troublesome Allied officers. Post-War Life After the war, Bader left the RAF but remained a public figure, campaigning for the rights of disabled people and serving as an inspiration to amputees worldwide. His life story was portrayed in the 1956 film Reach for the Sky. Why He Matters Douglas Bader symbolised determination and defiance. Whatever opinions existed about his tactics or personality, his return to operational flying after such severe injuries was extraordinary for the era.