A couple from the UK. Patrick Moore - who presented the monthly TV astronomy show Sky at Night for over 50 years. He started presenting it before the launch of Sputnik I until February this year when he sadly passed away at the age of 89.
Another hero of mine is Douglas Bader, WWII Spitfire ace. Despite loosing both legs in an air crash, he rejoined the air force and racked up of 20 enemy aircraft before being shot down. He tried to escape the POW camp so often that the Germans threatened to confiscate his false legs! He was also a regular customer of Blakemar Pipes which are still making high quality hand made pipes to this day.