Teleprinter message from HQ 11 Group to 2 Group and all stations, relating to the parachute dropping of Wg Cdr Douglas Bader's artificial leg over St. Omer, 19 August 1941

Douglas Bader lost his legs in a flying accident in 1931, he learned to walk again with prosthetic limbs and on the outbreak of war managed to rejoin the RAF as a fighter pilot. He was shot down on an operation over France on the 9th August losing one of his artificial legs as he baled out of his Spitfire.

The Germans notified British authorities of Bader's missing leg and arrangements were made to deliver a leg by air. During Circus 81, a fighter-escorted daylight bombing attack on targets in France, six Bristol Blenheim of No. 18 Squadron escorted by fighters were to attack the power station at Gosnay. On the flight to the target Bader's replacement leg was successfully dropped by Bristol Blenheim R3843, however the raid was abandoned because of 10/10ths cloud over the target.