Reach for the Sky

Arriving to join the Air Force as a cadet, Douglas Bader rides up to the gatehouse of the RAF's college at Cranwell. Dave aka Spike confirms this as RAF Cranwell, adding that the building on the left is still the Main Guard Room, prior to which it was the RAF Cranwell railway station! (RL)

Douglas rides away after being directed to the cadet's mess.

On the parade ground where Douglas meets Johnny Sanderson (Lyndon Brook), the new recruits endure their first inspection by Flight Sergeant Mills (Eddie Byrne).

After training is completed, new recruits wait outside Air Vice-Marshal Halahan's office as, inside, Bader is reprimanded for his disregard for discipline.

Bader and Sanderson are posted to RAF Kenley. The Station HQ and parade ground at RAF Kenley in Surrey. Bill Martin tells us that "in the late 1980s I worked for a short time in the dance hall at Kenley Officer's Mess where the dance sequence was filmed. The minstrel's gallery was still in place at the time and the hall was used as a marine radio testing laboratory. Unfortunately, it all burnt down around 2016."

Jonathan Copestake found that, sadly, this is all that remains.

Continuing to excel at flying and sports, Douglas is chosen to take part in an aerial exhibition. The former RAF base located between Caterham and Kenley is now known as Kenley Aerodrome.

At Reading Aero Club, Douglas is taunted by civilian members until he takes to the sky to show off his flying skills. Denham Aerodrome located by Paul Atkinson who adds that the scene where Douglas takes up golf was shot at Denham Golf Club and the aerodrome can be spotted in the background. The location also features in 'The Flying Sorcerer', 'You Can't Escape', 'Sex and the Other Woman' and 'The Wrong Arm of The Law'.

As the club members look on, the young airman performs low level aerobatics before crashing. Paul Atkinson advises that the house to the left gives this away as Denham Aerodrome near Gerrard's Cross in Buckinghamshire.

Douglas recovers in hospital after surgeon Mr. J. Leonard Joyce amputates first his right leg, then part of his left. The Royal Berkshire Hospital seen from from London Road in Reading.

Howard Morgan provides the "now" witnessing that flower beds and foliage have given way to cars. (RL)

With Mr. Joyce and Matron watching, Douglas leaves the hospital. Peter Heather lives in a house built at this location and identifies this as the driveway of Hillcrest House, the Station Commander of RAF Kenley’s home, next to the airfield on Salmon's Lane, Caterham.

Peter advises that "The house was demolished and four new properties built on the site in 1980 with the driveway becoming a cul-de-sac called Rosebriars. The brick piers and gates have gone and the householders on the right hand side have added shrubs and a fence where the formal garden and lawn was. Shrubs are also encroaching onto the drive on the left hand side but the view is still recognisable after 60 years."

Douglas arrives at RAF Uxbridge to convalesce where he meets other injured airmen including Streatfield and Peel. This is the parade ground at RAF Uxbridge with the spire of St Andrew's Church to the right of centre which is confirmed by Antony Blair.

The same location captured by Antony, with the church in full view and the former RAF gymnasium still standing on the left. The whole site is currently in the process of being turned into a housing estate.

Peel takes Douglas and Streatfield for a drive into the countryside. This appears to be the entrance of RAF Uxbridge to the north of Manor Way on the opposite side of Hillingdon Road, Uxbridge in Middlesex.

After a short distance Douglas takes over driving the Bentley, using the hand throttle and his peg leg on the clutch. Sarah Reed identifies this as opposite The Green on Bradenham Wood Lane in Bradenham, Buckinghamshire.

Peter W provides this closer view of the cottages.

When they stop for tea, Douglas meets waitress Thelma Edwards. The Pantiles Tea Rooms on London Road in Bagshot, Surrey. The building ended up as a night club before closing in 2007 to be demolished soon after.

David O'Donogue recalls going to a dance at the Pantiles in the sixties after it had become a night club because it had a reputation for being full of 'posh birds'. "It may have been a lovely setting as a tea room but was hopeless as a dancing venue as I kept crashing into the oak posts on the dance floor while trying to throw a few shapes to impress the girls."

At the Ministry of Pensions Hospital at Roehampton, Douglas has tin legs fitted and within three weeks is able to walk without the aid of a stick. Queen Mary's Convalescent Auxiliary Hospital on Roehampton Lane in London SW15.

Peter Bywaters tells us that Roehampton House was built in 1710 and is described as a baroque villa according to The Lutyens Trust. Sir Edwin Lutyens made alterations in 1913 just before the building was requisitioned for troop accommodation in 1915. Now a listed building converted into apartments.

In his new car, Douglas sets off from Uxbridge to court Thelma.

Douglas drives through the gates of RAF Kenley where his old pal Flight Lieutenant Harry Day accompanies him into the sky in an Avro training aeroplane. The gateway to RAF Kenley on Salmons Lane West in Kenley near Caterham. The road ahead is now called Victor Beamish Avenue.

Peter Heather provides this view of the entrance to the airfield now and adds that that the trees lining the road were planted as a memorial to those who died flying from here during WWI and subsequent conflicts. Victor Beamish, after whom the road is named, was the Wing Commander at Kenley in 1942 and was killed whilst leading the wing.

After failing his medical, Douglas tells Thelma that he's been grounded. The bridge over St. James's Park Lake in London SW1. Also seen in 'Britannia Mews', 'Madam Louise' and 'The Promise'.

Peter captured the replacement bridge, with Buckingham Palace hiding behind the trees.

Even though Bader proves that he can still fly, he is grounded because there are no regulations to cover his case. The Station HQ and parade ground at RAF Kenley. The base was operational between 1917 and 1959.

Preferring to quit rather than take a ground job, Douglas leaves Kenley and the RAF to take up civilian work.

In his MG M-Type Midget, Douglas drives through the gates of RAF Kenley. Looking onto Salmons Lane West from the gateway of the base near Caterham in Surrey. Peter Heather comments that "After many years of decline its good to see the RAF laying claim to the area once again, with new RAF Kenley signs appearing on the airfield itself and direction signs in the surrounding area."

Peter's modern view is taken from inside the entrance looking out as its not now possible to photograph from the original angle due to the land on the right being securely fenced off. The sick bay on the left has disappeared but the air raid shelter beyond can just be made out. The brick entrance piers still exist.

On a rainy day, Douglas leaves the Registry Office with his new wife, Thelma Bader (Muriel Pavlow).

Following his acceptance back into the RAF prior to war starting, Douglas rises through the ranks to take over command of 242 squadron in Norfolk.

Initially meeting resistance from the men who have suffered losses in France, the new Commanding Officer ensures that his squadron gets the tools and equipment that it needs.

Douglas asks Warrant Officer West (Michael Ripper) to make repairs after receiving a few bullet holes during a battle.

After the Battle of Britain, Bader is promoted and sent to RAF Tangmere as Acting Wing Commander.

Group Captain Alfred 'Woody' Woodhall (Howard Marion-Crawford) welcomes his friend to the base.

At home, Thelma learns that her husband has been shot down over France and captured. This appears to be a scene borrowed from 'Once Upon a Dream', Fulbrook Cottage on Fulbrook Lane which runs north from Elstead in Surrey.

After escaping from the hospital where he's being held, Douglas makes his way into a nearby village where he is met by Gilbert De Glacerer of the resistance. Robin Brooks points out that this is Church Street, Twickenham which also appears in 'Dunkirk'. (RL)

Antony Blair captures the scene now.

The two men hide from the occupying troops as they march along the street. Church Lane in Twickenham, Middlesex located by Robin and confirmed by Mike Nancollas who adds that the lane had cobbles with lines of granite for the heavy carts that came up from the riverside flour mill and recalls that the old wooden building was was a cycle repair shop owned by a Mr. Russell.

Looking along Church Lane towards the Thames taken by Antony.

De Glacerer leads Douglas on their 3km walk to a safe house. Mike Nancollas remembers "When filming at Twickenham's riverside, the film makers covered the whole area outside the Queens Head public house, now the Barmy Arms, with rubber tiles representing cobblestones. This view is facing north along Church Lane with number 25 at the corner of the alley that passes behind the pub with the men silhouetted by a floodlight on Church Lane. It was strange hearing the soldiers marching on rubber tiles silently and in the film hearing the click of boots on real cobbles."

Antony Blair provides this modern view.

Following a grueling walk, Douglas is carried the last few yards into a canal-side cottage. Cowley Lock near Uxbridge in Middlesex where Fray's River passes beneath the Grand Junction Canal.

Antony Blair returned to the location.

The following morning, soldiers arrive and discover Douglas in an outbuilding. Looking along the Grand Union Canal from Cowley Lock towards Iver Lane, Cowley near Uxbridge with the Malt Shovel public house in the centre distance.

Antony Blair provides this shot of the same location.

The householders are lead away as Douglas tells his captors that they didn't know he was there. Alongside the Grand Union Canal off Iver Lane, Cowley near Uxbridge, Middlesex. The location as also featured in 'Water Gipsies'.

Antony Blair found that the house has been demolished.

Douglas Bader shows defiance towards the enemy when they move him from prison camp to prison camp after several escape attempts.