Douglas Bader recovered from injuries both legs amputated to become one of aviation ’ s greatest flying aces . Was shot down over ##board in 1941 and ended up in German prison camps . And he was involved in a mass break - out that pre - dated the break in 1944 immortalised in The Great Escape . Now , Hollywood eventually snapped up the rights to turn military historian jack Felton 's book about the escape into a blockbuster .
Douglas Bader recovered from having both legs amputated to become one of Britain ’ s greatest fighter aces . Was shot down over France in 1941 and ended up in German prison camp . And he was involved in a mass break-out that pre-dated the break in 1944 immortalised in The Great Escape . Now , Hollywood bosses snapped up the rights to turn military historian Mark Felton 's book about the escape into a blockbuster .