Douglas Bader was a British fighter pilot who flew in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. He is known for his incredible feats of bravery and determination, despite having lost both his legs in a flying accident before the war.
The phrase "flight from the sky" is often associated with Douglas Bader, as it was used to describe one of his most famous aerial engagements during the Battle of Britain. On September 7, 1940, Bader led a squadron of Spitfire fighters in an attack on a formation of German bombers. In the ensuing dogfight, Bader's Spitfire was hit and he was forced to bail out of his aircraft.
Despite being a double amputee and unable to use his legs, Bader was able to successfully parachute to the ground and was later rescued by a local farmer. The phrase "flight from the sky" was coined to describe Bader's remarkable escape from his disabled aircraft.
Bader went on to become one of the most decorated pilots of the war, with 22 aerial victories to his name. He was eventually shot down over German-occupied France in August 1941 and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war.
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