- 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.
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