Richard Branson voices commemorative podcast for RAF Museum

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

AVIATION entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has voiced a commemorative podcast for the Royal Air Force Museum.

Richard Branson

The founder of the Virgin Group narrated this month’s podcast, Bader: Fighter Pilot, which has been commissioned to mark the centenary of Douglas Bader’s birth, on February 21.

It will form part of a series of exhibitions at the RAF museum, in Grahame Park Way, to remember the former Battle of Britain pilot.

The podcast examines the life of Bader from his near-fatal air crash in 1931, where he lost both legs at the knee, through to his wartime service as one of the highest scoring aces in the Battle of Britain and his subsequent efforts to escape from German captivity after being shot down and held in a prisoner of war camp in August 1941.

After the war and until his death in 1982, Bader spent much of his time working on behalf of disabled people, particularly for the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association. He later received the CBE and was knighted for his charitable work.

Peter Dye, director of the museum’s collections division, said: “Douglas Bader was an exceptional individual and an outstanding pilot whose determination to overcome apparently overwhelming odds exemplified Fighter Command’s struggle to save Britain in the summer of 1940.

“His example has inspired countless others in their own battles with injury or disability while the values shown by Bader and his generation, who gave so much in the defence of freedom, are as important today as they were in 1940.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sir Richard Branson for his narration. I am certain his support will help us inspire a new generation and ensure Douglas Bader’s story is never forgotten.”

To listen to the podcast, visit www.rafmuseum.org/podcasts

The RAF museum is also showing a small exhibition of Bader artifacts, including his log book, until March 31.