Heidemarie W. Schnaufer is Karlsland's top night witch, based on the real German pilot Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer—known historically as "The Night Ghost of St. Trond." By late 1944, she'd racked up nearly 100 confirmed kills, all scored in nighttime air combat. She's best known for her exceptional night vision ability, which lets her see clearly in darkness using starlight alone. This comes paired with her magic radar antenna, the signature tool of any night witch worth her salt.
The catch? Her ability wasn't always under control. As a kid, her night vision would activate unpredictably, forcing her to spend much of her childhood cooped up indoors in dim lighting. When she entered witch training at age 10, she finally learned to manage it. By then, though, the damage to her visual neurons was permanent—magic couldn't fix what was already done—so she's worn thick prescription glasses ever since. It's a small price for the talent she developed.
What sets her apart from typical night witches is how much she actually wants to connect with people her own age. Most night witches are solitary by nature, but Schnaufer craves friendship. It probably traces back to that isolated childhood. She's managed to strike up a genuine friendship with fellow night witch Sanya, and the two keep in regular contact during their patrols.
As of 1944, she's serving as a night-fighter air infantryman. Once she hits that 100-victory mark, she'll be promoted to Squadron Leader—making her Karlsland's youngest combat air wing commander ever.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
