I certainly heard two views of Bader when I was in the service. One was that he was unpleasant and one that that was just a facade and he was a really warm human being behind it all.
The comment that sticks was from a flight deck visitor in the nineties who had been a Sgt pilot on 242 Squadron. When asked what the guy was like his answer was:
"He was a very go ahead bloke and that was just what was needed at that time"
Probably as close to the horses mouth as you will get and a nice way to be remembered.