A German pilot during WWII, Franz Stigler passed away in March.  The interesting story of the incident Stigler was involved in has since become the subject of some internet lore, and the story is verified by Snopes:http://www.snopes.com/military/charliebrown.aspHere is a synopsis from Snopes:

If you read the rest of the account you'll see how it was an act of honor that he did.  I suppose it's quite a thing to know that by pulling the trigger you take away the lives of the men flying in the wounded plane.