Dambusters Exhibition Programme

In 1915, eight years after he left Teddies, Louis Strange, who was one of the very first pilots of the RFC to fly over northern France, found notoriety when his Camel fighter plane rolled over in combat. Hanging upside-down in mid-air from the

legacy of the most famous of the Teddies pilots who followed him: Douglas Bader. However, whilst Strange managed to avoid the risky consequence of his stunts, Bader’s lost him both of his legs just three years after leaving St Edward’s. Determined to fly in defence of his country in the summer of 1940,

by an eternally grateful nation: Guy Gibson and his Avro Lancaster. I will not attempt to describe the story of the ‘Dambusters’ raid, as to do so would not give justice to the awe-inspiring nature of the operation Gibson commanded (depicted in the 1955 film of the same title). However, I think it is worth noting something about Gibson’s legacy as we celebrate the RAF: Gibson, once again, was another courageous trailblazer. I have chosen to reflect on Strange, Bader and Gibson because they are famously, but not uniquely, trailblazing and courageous pilots. They embody the school’s collective legacy of nearly 400 OSE that have served in the RAF. 

The RAF has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. The dozens of model Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Typhoons I played with as a child still have their spot on the shelves in my bedroom. However, four years ago when I lived in the US, the RAF was never more than model planes and films like The Dambusters and The Battle of Britain . Looking back on my studies of the RAF at this School, from debates with my Shell history teacher about whether the RAF or Luftwaffe fighter had the edge, to my current EPQ on the Battle of Britain, I could never have imagined how close to the foundation of the RAF Teddies has brought me.

bullet drum of his machine gun, Strange managed, by thrusting upwards into the cockpit, to use his legs to yank the stick and roll his fighter upright – before turning to fly straight back into the dogfight.  Impressive as it was, this alone wasn’t what made Strange the first of the ‘Teddies pilots’. In fact, it was when, in 1912, Strange roared past the

Bader’s prosthetic legs would accompany him into the cockpit of his Hurricane. Bader would go on to develop the ground-

Strange roared past the pupils below him, who stood stunned by the sight of his airplane squeezing through the narrow gap between the Chapel and Main Building

breaking “Big Wing” strategy that gave the RAF the critical edge in the Battle of Britain. 242 Squadron, with Bader as its leader, had claimed 62 Aerial Victories against the Luftwaffe by the time Bader was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross ‘for his services during the Battle of Britain’.  Bader’s heroic contribution to Britain’s survival in the Battle of Britain would set the stage for its ultimate victory over Nazi Germany. However, as Winston Churchill told the British nation, “ The Fighters are our salvation but the Bombers alone provide the means of victory .” There is one bomber pilot particularly worthy of remembrance

pupils below him, who stood stunned by the sight of his airplane squeezing through the narrow gap between the Chapel and Main Building, that the ‘Teddies pilot’ was born. Strange may have been the first OSE pilot in the RAF to pull off such an iconic stunt, but he would not be the last. This combination of dare-devilry and immeasurable bravery would shape the

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