The Pilot Who Flew With No Feet

RAF pilot Douglas Bader lost both of his legs in a 1931 aerobatic accident and was medically discharged. When WWII broke out, he fought to be reinstated — and was, against all odds, given command of a fighter squadron. With his artificial legs, he flew combat missions, shot down 22 enemy aircraft, and became one of the Battle of Britain's top aces. After being shot down over France in 1941, he was given special treatment by the Germans, who allowed the British to drop a replacement pair of prosthetic legs by parachute in Operation Mimi. He made multiple escape attempts from POW camps and was eventually sent to Colditz Castle, the high-security camp for persistent escapers.