Sept. 13 : Roald Dahl Day

Since Sept. 13th is Roald Dahl day, lets take a look at some documentaries about the life of one of the world’s greatest storytellers. Roald Dahl was a British author, poet, and screenwriter who was born in Wales to Norwegian immigrant parents. He is best known for his imaginative children’s books, which have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. However, before he became a writer, Dahl served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II as a fighter pilot and intelligence officer.

Battle of Athens

Dahl’s time as an air force pilot in Greece was particularly notable. In April 1941, Dahl flew a Hawker Hurricane in the Battle of Athens, a dog-fighting air battle over Athens fought between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe towards the end of the Battle of Greece. According to Dahl, the battle began when the twelve remaining Hurricanes of the Royal Air Force’s 80 Squadron, flying in formation over Athens to boost civilian morale, were attacked by a large group of German Luftwaffe aircraft, mostly Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Bf 110s along with some Junkers Ju 87s and Junkers Ju 88s. In the resulting battle, four RAF pilots were shot down and killed, including the famous Marmaduke “Pat” Pattle and the Irish RAF pilot William “Timber” Woods, and one pilot lost his Hawker Hurricane but was able to escape.

After the Battle of Athens, Dahl escaped from Greece with the remnants of his squadron. He went on to describe the battle in his second autobiography, Going Solo, and in the short story “Katina”. Dahl’s experiences as a fighter pilot during the war would later inspire him to write about his experiences and submit them for publishing.

Dahl’s time in the RAF was not without its challenges. In 1940, Dahl was involved in a plane crash in Libya that left him with serious injuries. He spent six months in hospital before rejoining his squadron in Greece. After his time in Greece, Dahl served in Syria before being assigned to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. as an assistant air attaché.

Roald Dahl the author

Roald Dahl found a huge success as an author. Dahl’s works have been translated into 63 languages and have been enjoyed by children and adults alike. Dahl’s books are known for their dark humor, whimsical characters, and fantastical settings.

Dahl’s first book for children, James and the Giant Peach, was published in 1961. This was followed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964), Fantastic Mr. Fox (1970), Danny, the Champion of the World (1975), The BFG (1982), and Matilda (1988). Dahl’s books are beloved by children for their imaginative stories and quirky characters. They are also popular with adults for their clever wordplay and dark humor.

In addition to his children’s books, Dahl also wrote several collections of short stories for adults. These stories are known for their macabre humor and unexpected twists. Some of Dahl’s most famous short stories include “Lamb to the Slaughter,” “The Landlady,” and “The Hitchhiker”. Other of his short stories have recently been turned into short movies on Netflix.

Dahl’s books have been adapted into several successful films, including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), The Witches (1990), and Matilda (1996). Dahl also wrote several screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967) and the children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).

You can learn more about Roald Dahl in the BBC Documentary about him below: