WW2's Deadliest Night Intruder

On May 12, 1944, after working tirelessly with nearly no breaks for years, Wing Commander John "Bob" Braham was undeniably sleep-deprived. Still, he was as driven as ever, strong in his belief that a pilot's duty was to engage the enemy, whatever the cost.
But he was growing increasingly reckless.
That day, flying a Mosquito over Denmark with navigator Bill "Sticks" Gregory, Braham spotted an Fw 190 fighter. As he gave chase, a Bf 109 ambushed them, piercing their wing and fuel lines before vanishing. Undeterred, Braham pursued the Fw 190. Skimming treetops, his fighter bounced off a mound, but he recovered, setting the enemy ablaze mere yards away.
With the Mosquito damaged beyond repair, miles from safety, with alarms blaring, Braham used the last of his power to climb to a high altitude and broadcast an emergency message. By the time air-sea rescue found the duo alive in a dinghy, the fighter was broken in half.
Despite the thousands of pounds in damages and the flat-out recklessness, when his wing commander visited him that night, instead of a reprimand, Braham, now one of Britain’s greatest aces, received congratulations on his 29th victory.
Little did he know, it would be his last.
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