Enhglish pilot Douglas Bader lost both legs in an airplane crash in the 1930s. It ended his RAF career, until WWII broke out, when he was allowed to come back as an instructor. Shortly thereafter he got a slot as a combat pilot and became one of the RAF's leading aces. He was shot down over France and set out the last half of the war in a German POW camp.
As a Stalag prisoner, Bader made several escape attempts. The frustrated Jerries finally confiscated his artificial legs to prevent further attempts.