To the OP.
Don't forget that when trying to draw comparisons between "then" and "now" in terms of how Bader was treated, he wasn't allowed to fly in the RAF back "then" either.
He was medically discharged as unfit to fly after recovery from his accident. He was only eventually allowed back in after the outbreak of war.
As to the guy's character. i met him twice, once when I was a serving officer, and once when I was a civilian. I don't think that I have ever met anyone so arrogant and thoroughly unpleasant.