List of Strike Witches Characters - 501st Joint Fighter Wing

501st Joint Fighter Wing

The protagonists of the anime are part of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing (連合軍第501統合戦闘航空団, Rengōgundan Daigohyakuichi Tōgō Sentō Kōkū Dan?), a multinational team of 11 soldiers commanded by Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke.

Yoshika Miyafuji (宮藤 芳佳, Miyafuji Yoshika?)

Voiced by: Misato Fukuen (Japanese), Cherami Leigh (English)

Yoshika is the 14-year-old protagonist of Strike Witches, hailing from the Fusō Empire. A typical young girl who comes from a family of clinicians who use their magic powers to heal people, Yoshika gains the features of a mame-shiba when using said power. Before the events of the series, her father Ichirō designs the Striker Units the Strike Witches use to fight. However, because of her father's death in the war she is vehemently against fighting when Mio Sakamoto appears to recruit her. After helping to defend the Fusō fleet heading to Britannia from a Neuroi attack does, she decides to join the 501st, entering with the rank of Sergeant. Yoshika has a talent for cooking, but tends to care more about her food's health benefits than its taste, such as when she introduced the other Witches to nattō. Yoshika carries a type 99 aircraft cannon along with a M712 in battle. Her Striker Unit is modeled after the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, later a Kyushu J7W "Shinden" and she is based on the ace Kaneyoshi Mutō. Eventually, Yoshika loses her magical powers while stopping the Neuroi threat in Romagna, where she is promoted to the rank of Ensign. However, in Strike Witches The Movie, she manages to regain her powers and reunite with her teammates. In the Maidens of the Heavens manga, she has a small gray dog as a familiar. In battle, she uses a Type 99 cannon and Mauser C6.

Misato Fukuen was also known as the voice of Miyuki Hoshizora/Cure Happy from Smile PreCure!.

Mio Sakamoto (坂本 美緒, Sakamoto Mio?)

Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (2007-2010), Saori Seto (2010-present) (Japanese), Kira Vincent-Davis (English)

Mio is the first Strike Witch and sub-commander of the unit, with the rank of Major. Mio is also the oldest witch in the 501st at 19 years old and, as with Yoshika Miyafuji, comes from Fusō. She is seemingly the toughest and most mature of the Witches, being an experienced veteran of the early fighting against the Neuroi. Years before the events of the series, she befriends Yoshika's father Ichirō while he is first designing the Striker Unit and becomess the first person to pilot one. Her usual task is to train new recruits, and in this role she becomes a very strict disciplinarian, appropriately gaining the ears and tail of a Doberman when equipped with her Striker. Otherwise she is quite friendly, if a little too forward at times, with a very distinct laugh. Under Mio's eyepatch is a magic eye that grants her increased visual prowess and the ability to spot Neuroi cores when used. Being in her older teens, Mio's magical power has declined too far for her to erect effective shields in combat, however she can still fly and use her magical eye. She carries a type 99 aircraft cannon into a battle along with a magical katana strapped to her back capable of cutting apart giant Neuroi. In the second season, she builds herself an enhanced katana called the Reppumaru that can cut through Neuroi beams to compensate for the lack of shields. However, the sword drains a substantial amount of magic, shortening her lifespan as a Witch. Her Striker Unit is based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, later a Kawanishi N1K "Shiden-kai" and she herself is based on Saburō Sakai. Mio eventually loses her magical powers, ending her career as a witch as a result. In Strike Witches The Movie, she assists Yoshika while piloting a biplane.

Mio's voice was done by Saeko Chiba in 2007 until 2010 and Saori Seto in 2010.

Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke (ミーナ・ディートリンデ・ヴィルケ, Mīna Dītorinde Viruke?)

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese), Anastasia Munoz (English)

Minna is the 18-year-old leader of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing from Karlsland with the rank of Commander. Minna has a sisterly air that shows her concern for those under her command. Whether in or out of battle, her first priority is the safety of her subordinates. Her more gentle demeanor means that she often acts as the "good cop" to Mio Sakamoto's "bad cop" when it comes to discipline. She also has a talent for singing, wanting to become a professional before she joins the war effort before the beginning of the series. However, she gives up that dream when her lover is killed in battle. Out of fear from losing anybody else, Minna gives an order prohibiting the male workers on the base from having unauthorized contact with the witches. She is also rather protective of Mio, usually standing in her way whenever she tries something reckless. Alluding to her namesake, Minna gains wolf features when equipped for combat. Her power grants her enhanced spatial awareness, allowing her to pinpoint the precise location and number of objects in a wide area of space. Her affiliation is the Karlsland JG 3 Luftwaffe. During combat she arms herself with an MG 42. Her Striker Unit model is the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2, later a Messershmitt Bf 109 K-4, and her ace pilot archetype is Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke.

Lynette Bishop (リネット・ビショップ, Rinetto Bishoppu?)

Voiced by: Kaori Nazuka (Japanese), Kate Bristol (English)

Lynette, also called "Lynne", is the only Witch in the 501st who is native to the Britannian Commonwealth. As the middle child of eight siblings, Lynette develops very domestic and practical habits from helping to take care of them. Similarly domestic is the Scottish Fold, from which her Striker-equipped animal features are based. Plagued by occasional clumsiness and sometimes overlooked, she nevertheless strives to do her best. After meeting Yoshika Miyafuji, the two eventually become best friends. Lynnette holds the rank of Master Sergeant and her affiliation is the Britannian Air Force 610th Fighter Squadron. Her armaments are a Mk. I Boys anti-tank rifle and a Bren light machine gun. She serves as the squadron's sharpshooter and possesses an ability to supercharge magic power into shots she fires. Her Striker Unit is based on the Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, later a Supermarine Spitfire Mk 22, and her pilot archetype is unclear, but is likely one of the children of Billy Bishop, who is the pilot archetype for Minnie Bishop, Lynette's mother. Lynette also has an older sister, Wilma, who is also a Strike Witch, and likely based on Billy Bishop's son, Arthur.

Perrine H. Clostermann (ペリーヌ・クロステルマン, Perīnu Kurosuteruman?)

Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese), Jad Saxton (English)

Perrine is a wealthy and proper 15-year-old Gallian girl who looks down on some of the less-refined habits of her peers. Years before the series' present, the Neuroi's conquest of her homeland traumatizes her and cause her numerous problems. She often refuses to work as part of a team, and develops a dislike for Yoshika Miyafuji due to her attachment to Mio Sakamoto. This eventually develops into full-blown jealousy, causing her to challenge Yoshika to a duel. When wearing her Striker Unit, she gains the dark ears and tail of a Chartreux. Perrine holds the rank of First Lieutenant and her original unit was the Forces Aériennes Galliaises Libres 602nd Flying Corps. She carries a rapier in artwork, which briefly appeared on episode 9 of the second season as an heirloom from her family. She also uses a Bren light machine gun. She has a lightning based spell called Tonnerre which can strike down multiple targets. Her Striker Unit is based on the Arsenal VG-39 and she is named after Pierre Clostermann.

Erica Hartmann (エーリカ・ハルトマン, Ērika Harutoman?)

Voiced by: Sakura Nogawa (Japanese), Luci Christian (English)

Erica is Karlsland's 16-year-old "ultra ace" of the Luftwaffe JG 52 with more than 200 confirmed victories and the rank of Captain. While extremely efficient and strategic in battle, Erica is surprisingly messy with her belongings and often neglects cleaning tasks. The type of person who is only serious when the situation calls for it. Her special technique is an offensive barrel roll named Sturm which manipulates gusts of ether to attack enemies. With her Striker Unit equipped, Erica gains Dachshund features. Her armaments are the MG 42 and a MP 40. Her Striker Unit is based on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, later a Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4, and her ace archetype is Erich Hartmann.

Gertrud Barkhorn (ゲルトルート・バルクホルン, Gerutorūto Barukuhorun?)

Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)

Gertrud is an 18-year-old Witch originating from Karlsland with the rank of Captain formerly of the Luftwaffe JG 52. Quiet, efficient, and private, Gertrud (known as "Trude" to her friends) tends to support her comrades from the shadows. Her naturally calm attitude grants her great battlefield stamina, allowing her to rack up an impressive shot-down tally. A long-time acquaintance of Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and Erica Hartmann, she is often seen supporting the former in her leadership tasks and chastising the latter for her sloppiness. She has a younger sister named Christine Barkhorn who was badly injured during the invasion of her country and vaguely resembles Yoshika Miyafuji, and she often has a complete change in personality whenever she is brought up. Her magical power grants her the most physical strength of all the Witches to the extent where she can lift a steel girder many times her size. In flight she gains the features of a German Wirehaired Pointer. For battle her armament consists of an MG 42, MG 131, or MG 151 which she dual wields. Her Striker Unit is based on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-6 Prototype, later a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9, and she is based on Gerhard Barkhorn. She briefly flew a jet striker based on the Messerschmitt Me 262 armed with two twin-linked MK 108 30mm autocannon and a single BK 5 50mm anti-armor cannon. It was much faster and heavily armed but drained magic at a dangerous rate.

Francesca Lucchini (フランチェスカ・ルッキーニ, Furanchesuka Rukkīni?)

Voiced by: Chiwa Saitō (Japanese), Trina Nishimura (English)

Lucchini is the youngest soldier of the 501st at 12 years old, having joined the unit from the Duchy of Romagna. With a rank of Ensign, her unit affiliation was with Romagna's Sovrana Aeronautica Romagniana 4th Air Unit. Lucchini is often childish and self-indulgent, shirking training and other duties in order to have fun around the base or nap. However, in battle she displays a true talent and passion for flying. Also displayed are the ears and tail of a black leopard. She is good friends with the similarly casual Charlotte Yeager, often pairing with her in battle where she is thrown at high speed to defeat Neuroi. She has a tendency to occasionally speak in a sing-song tone. During battles she carries a M1919 A6, Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm machine gun, or Beretta Model 1938A. She has the power to concentrate energy into a point in front of her, and release it in one powerful burst. Working with her best friend Charlotte Yeager, who throws her, she can use this ability to greatly damage an enemy. Her Striker Unit is based on the Fiat G.55 Centauro, and her ace archetype is Franco Lucchini.

Charlotte E. Yeager (シャーロット・E・イエーガー, Shārotto Ī Iēgā?)

Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu (Japanese), Jamie Marchi (English)

Charlotte, also called "Shirley" (シャーリー, Shārī?), is a 16-year-old girl hailing from the United States of Liberion with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Magnanimous in character, tall and buxom in appearance, Charlotte is a thrill-seeker who is fascinated by speed. Like a speedy hare, she gains the ears and tail of a rabbit when equipped with her Striker, possibly alluding to model and photographer Bunny Yeager. Concerned with cleanliness, Charlotte has her personal bath transported to the Strike Witches' Britannia base when she is transferred from the Liberion Army 363rd Fighter Wing years before the events of the series. In combat her armament can consist of a M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, Thompson M1 A1, or Colt Government M1911 A1; also depicted carrying a Bowie knife. The North American P-51D Mustang serves as the basis for her Striker Unit that she nicknames Merlin, while Charlotte is based on Chuck Yeager. As with her namesake, Charlotte becomes the first person to break the sound barrier. Before joining the 501st, she also establishes herself as a motorcycle racer who breaks the land speed record on Bonneville Salt Flats using a modified Indian motorcycle identical to one used by legendary New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro in the 1950s.

Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen (エイラ・イルマタル・ユーティライネン, Eira Irumataru Yūtirainen?)

Voiced by: Ayuru Ōhashi (Japanese), Caitlin Glass (English)

Eila is the 15-year-old top-ranking ace of the Suomus Air Force 24th Unit with the rank of Ensign (although the three roses on her collar would indicate the rank of captain). Eila's hobby is fortune-telling with tarot cards, although the accuracy of her predictions is questionable at best. In battle however, she literally has the magical power of seeing into the future, allowing her to evade incoming attacks with ease. Somewhat mischievous, like the black fox whose features she gains in flight. She is particularly affectionate towards Sanya Litvyak and becomes cold to anyone who comes too close to her, this usually being Yoshika Miyafuji. In combat her weapons of choice are the MG42 and Suomi M1931 submachine gun. Eila's Striker Unit is based on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2, later a Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4, and she is based on Eino Ilmari Juutilainen. She has an older sister named Aurora E. Juutilainen, based on Eino's older bother, Aarne Edward Juutilainen. Her middle name may be based on the Ilmatar of Finnish mythology.

Sanya V. Litvyak (サーニャ・V・リトヴャク, Sānya Bui Ritovyaku?)

Voiced by: Mai Kadowaki (Japanese), Jennifer Forrester (English)

Sanya, whose real name is Alexandra Vladimirovna Litvyak (アレクサンドラ・ウラジミーロヴナ・リトヴャク, Arekusandora Urajimīrovuna Ritovyaku?), is the sole Witch in the 501st out of the Orussian Empire at 13 years old. Preferring to stay indoors during the day, Sanya has been described as "nocturnal." At times she is literally asleep on her feet, counting on Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen to move her around. She has a habit of stumbling into Eila's room to fall asleep in after missions. Despite this somewhat limiting her contact with the other members of the 501st, her low profile makes her ideal for night missions. Also helping her in this duty is her magical specialty, the ability to read signals such as radio waves that are invisible to the naked eye, giving her a highly advanced spatial awareness. Sanya gains the ears and tail of a black cat with her Striker Unit equipped. The green brackets that form around Sanya's head are reminiscent of the radar antennae found on night fighters during World War II, further reinforcing her nocturnal nature. Sanya's rank is Lieutenant and her original unit affiliation is the Orussian Imperial Army 586th Fighter Regiment. Her weapon of choice is a modified Fliegerfaust called the "Fliegerhammer." Her Striker Unit design is based on the MiG-60 (a fictional warbird combining features of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 and MiG-3, and Yakovlev Yak-1), later a MiG I-225 (a fictional warbird based mainly on the MiG-3), and her pilot archetype is Lydia Litvyak. Sanya is often key in special missions and is one of the more powerful witches despite her relatively small role played in the fighting in the day. The reason Sanya cannot fight in the day is due to the fact that when the witches fly they use up "Magic power" this power is used to power their "Striker Units" which give them the ability to fly. Sanya uses up her magic in the all night patrol and is therefore rarely involved in daylight missions and only is when it is pre-planned or is of utmost importance.