Summary

1 Crown, Issued by Isle of Man, 1981
Mint not recorded

The coin depicts Douglas Bader

Obverse Description

Diademed and draped bust of the Queen facing right; around, ISLE OF MAN ELIZABETH II 1981

Reverse Description

Facing bust of airman, incuse on jacket, SIR / DOUGLAS BADER; to left, Spitfire aircraft; around, .INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED. ONE CROWN

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (21 February 1910 - 5 September 1982)
Remembered as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Second World War, Bader had joined the RAF in 1928. In December 1931, while attempting aerobatics, he crashed and lost both legs. He recovered and retook flight training then requested reactivation as a pilot but was retired on medical grounds. After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Bader returned to the RAF as a pilot. He fought over Dunkirk during the Battle of France in 1940 and in the Battle of Britain. In August 1941, Bader was forced to bail out over German-occupied France (perhaps as a result of 'friendly fire') and was captured. Despite his disability, Bader made a number of escape attempts and was eventually sent to the POW camp at Colditz Castle where he remained until the camp was liberated in 1945.

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