He was posted to 601 Squadron, which was commonly referred to as the 'Millionaires' Squadron', because it was a unit in which wealthy young men paid their way in return for being taught how to fly Hurricanes on weekends and Bank Holidays. Copyright: Jonathan Vance.Īlthough he excelled as both an academic and a sportsman, Bushell yearned to fly and so in 1932 he joined the RAF Auxiliary and Reserve Volunteers.

Squadron Leader Roger Bushell (third from left) with the Cambridge University Ski Team, during the 1930's. The resulting stitches left him with a slight droop in that eye, which proved to be a feature that he could use to sinister effect whenever the need came. During an event in Canada, however, he had suffered a fall which came within a whisker of tragedy when the tip of one of his skis narrowly missed his right eye and opened a gash in the corner of it. He became a member of the Kandahar Club, at Mürren, and had a black run at St Moritz named after him in recognition of his setting of the fastest time down it. He excelled at skiing and during the early 1930's he was declared the fastest Briton in the downhill category. He furthered his interest in the theatre and was up there with the best of them when it came to a party, but he was also a profound athlete and had the honour of representing the University, both as a skier and rugby player. However, his talents extended far beyond a promising career in the legal profession. He was first schooled in Johannesburg but was later moved to Wellington, in England, and in 1929 he spent his first year at Cambridge University, where he studied law. His father, a mining engineer, had emigrated to the country from England and he used his wealth to ensure that Roger received a first class education. Roger Bushell was born in South Africa on the 30th November 1910.

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