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Apologies, but I want to tell a story about an ace who has no witch counterpart.
Johannes Steinhoff was a German ace of the highest order. He operated on on all fronts during WWII, achieving 176 victories and even served with Galland's experte band in JV44.
Steinhoff suffered an aerial disaster in his Me262, crashing and reportedly "covered in flames" and "reduced to a human torch." Miraculously, he survived horrible burns, but was left with significant scarring.
After the war, Steinhoff was offered a job as German representative to NATO Air Command. He initially declined the role, fearing that his wretched burns would be unsightly to younger pilots.
But quite the opposite. Those young pilots viewed Steinhoff's scars as a badge of honor, a testament to his dedication and a marker of his devotion to duty and country. Steinhoff eventually accepted his role, rising to the rank of Commander of NATO Air Force Europe.
