Bader vs Warburton

JDK
Looking at the first two replies, which mirror my own thoughts, why have more people not heard of Wing Commander Warburton?

Much time spent in a lesser known theatre of war, perhaps? Bader fought in the Battle of Britain, Gibson was a Dambuster – Malta, by comparison, is a bit of a sideshow in the eyes of many who should know better.

The school playing field is named for Bader – though if James Holland’s account in “Fortress Malta” is correct, he probably spent far more time on the sports field than Warburton!

Adrian

JDK

Morale… extra spelling homework for me this week!

The reason for the question was to try to put into perspective the ‘legends’ that i have grown up with as a child. Having read the biographies Bader seems to have been very much an officer’s man, while Warby was quite the opposite, prefering to hang around with the airmen, sharing a smoke while sitting on the floor. Both appear to have had considerable influence of those they met, or who heard of their actions.

Looking at the first two replies, which mirror my own thoughts, why have more people not heard of Wing Commander Warburton?

JDK

Morale… extra spelling homework for me this week!

The reason for the question was to try to put into perspective the ‘legends’ that i have grown up with as a child. Having read the biographies Bader seems to have been very much an officer’s man, while Warby was quite the opposite, prefering to hang around with the airmen, sharing a smoke while sitting on the floor. Both appear to have had considerable influence of those they met, or who heard of their actions.

Looking at the first two replies, which mirror my own thoughts, why have more people not heard of Wing Commander Warburton?

Who is better? Entirely subjective. Different effects on morale? Well worth discussing.

Interesting. In the wider sense, probably Bader as Warburton was relatively unknown outside the airforce and was working in a region where much went on “unheard” by not only the general public but others in the services elsewhere!

Bader v Warburton

Perhaps it was something to do with the school they attended, Bader, Warburton and Guy Gibson all attended the same school!!!!!!

Friend of mine used to drink with Screwball Beuerling at OTU. he was Ginger Laceys Fitter or Rigger, something like that, on AR213.

Who, in your opinion, did more for moral within their respective theatre?

Neither. moral is to do with ethical behaviour – not a particular forte of either gentleman. You mean morale. 😉

It’s an interesting question, as both were ‘legends’ in their own time – how much of that legend was founded in reality during the period they were operating (remember it was all based on hangar talk and bar tales) would be difficult to say. It’s all been tidied up and qualified since then. Many of the attributed taller tales will have been quietly forgotten, as either untrue or unpublishable.

I think it’s notable that in the biography of RR Stanford Tuck, he’s quoted as saying something along the lines of ‘most of us in the Air Force at some time would have thought – well, if a bloke with no legs can do it…’

Both of them were supremely arrogant egoists – a character that particularly appeals to some pilots and alienates others.

Who is better? Entirely subjective. Different effects on morale? Well worth discussing.

In my Humble opinion it has to be Wing Commander Adrian Warburton.

i second that.

mick

In my Humble opinion it has to be Wing Commander Adrian Warburton.