It wasn't just Bader's description. Other pilot's had similar debriefing stories. I suspect maybe its just an efffect of how they reported things, not necessarily how they fought them. The message I get from most of the reports is that the action (in these cases of meeting enemy fighters) was very fast-paced, and in most cases did not last very long. The flight gets jumped, breaks up. Some pilots find themselves suddenly alone in the sky, others are going down with damage, and every once in a while, someone is able to grab 2-3 snapshots. Then everyone (enemy included) heads for the deck and bugs out.
As far as the post(s) about Bader as a pilot himself, I have no doubt after reading this book that he was, truly, a great pilot. One does not necessarily get shot down (and survive many times, btw) by being a bad pilot, but by putting oneself in harm's way (part of the job). Bader's emphasis was (correctly) always on getting the bombers that were attacking his family, friends and countrymen.
Beyond being a great pilot, though, he was an exceptional leader, preparing, motivating and setting the example for his men as a wing (not just squadron) leader.
As far as the big wing tactics go, I have formed the following opinion while reading this book. I know I'll get flamed for it, but here it is.
Many people think Dowding was wrong for allowing 11 group and 12 group to have this dispute, and not sacking either Leigh-Mallory or (I think it was Parks, but not sure) 11 Group leader. If you look at the map, however, it makes sense that 12 group would employ big wing tactics to intercept bombers coming up the Thames estuary. They had time to climb, get up-sun, and deploy high cover before the main force went after the bombers. Many people seem to forget that the bmbers were the real targets. Dogfighting Me109s over the Thames only helped insofar as it drew them away from the force that was trying to kill the bombers that were trying to kill Londoners (my Mother among them). 11 Group, on the other hand, being closer to the raids, was actually climbing up under the action, and would naturally employ different tactics. I think that Dowding, far from being ineffective during this dispute on tactics, was actually very astute, and let both groups implement the tactics that worked best for them.
Through it all, Bader exemplified what was needed in a fighter and a leader. He cared about his men, trained them, took care of them in flight, and most of all, never forgot the primary mission, which was to get the d*** bombers! And all this on artificial legs
The only criticism that rings true is tht he did not know how to delegate, and took everything on himself, leading to exhaustion, leading to his capture.
