On December 18th, 1982, Hans-Ulrich Rudel—an iconic German Second World War Luftwaffe bomber pilot—passed away at the age of 66. Rudel was born on July 2nd, 1916 in Konradswaldau, then a part of German-occupied Poland. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and trained as a pilot, and he documented his experiences during the war in a series of diaries. His military career spanned the entirety of the Second World War and he became renowned for his actions. Rudel was the only person in the entirety of the Luftwaffe to ever attain the rank of lieutenant colonel without ever having attended a war academy. He flew more than 2,530 combat missions and is credited as the most decorated pilot in German history, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He was also the recipient of the Wehrmacht Long Service Award, the Blood Order of Hohenzollern and the German Cross in Gold. Rudel will be remembered as a brave soldier who served his nation loyally and without hesitation. He was an inspiration to many, and his passing leaves a huge void in the memory of a grateful nation. He is survived by his wife, Ingeborg, his three children, and a number of family members.