The Strike Witches mixed-media project features an extensive cast of characters created by Fumikane Shimada. The series takes place in an alternate Earth in the mid-20th century and revolves around a group of teenage moe anthropomorphic girls who use machines equipped to their legs known as Striker Units to do aerial combat. The characters are named after real-life pilots whilst their Striker Units are based on actual aircraft.
The main character of the manga and anime series is Yoshika Miyafuji, and the main character of the light novel series is Tomoko Anabuki, both of whom are witches from the Fuso Empire. In the anime and manga series, Yoshika joins the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, an international military squadron which also includes Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke, Mio Sakamoto, Charlotte E. "Shirley" Yeager, Lynette Bishop, Perrine H. Clostermann, Erica Hartmann, Gertrud Barkhorn, Francesca Lucchini, Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, and Sanya V. Litvyak. In the light novel series, Tomoko joins the Suomus Independent Volunteer Aerial Squadron, another international squadron which also includes Haruka Sakomizu, Elizabeth F. Beurling, Katharine O'Hare, Ursula Hartmann, Elma Leivonen and Giuseppina Cenni. Together, the squadrons fight against the Neuroi, an alien race that threatens the universe.
501st Joint Fighter Wing The protagonists of the anime are part of the , a multinational team of 11 soldiers commanded by Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke, also known as the Strike Witches.
Yoshika is the 14-year-old, later 15-year-old, protagonist of Strike Witches, hailing from the Fusō Empire. She comes from a family of clinicians who use their magic powers to heal people. Due to her drive to help people in need, Yoshika's power grants her the ability to heal most injuries at a much faster and more efficient rate than most witches can. Consequently, she also serves as the unofficial squadron medic. Yoshika's power allows her to erect a magic shield far larger and more powerful than that of most witches as well. Yoshika is able to concentrate her power into a smaller but more powerful shield and use it like a battering ram against Neuroi. 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, however, 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. Yoshika carries a type 99 aircraft cannon along with a M712 in battle. Eventually, Yoshika loses her magical powers after 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 Strike Witches: Road to Berlin, it's revealed that her officer rank only applies as a medic, but Master Sergeant otherwise. In the Maidens of the Heavens manga, she has a small gray dog as a familiar. Her original Striker Unit is modeled after the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" naval fighter but switched to a Striker prototype unit, nicknamed Magnificent Lightning made by her father for her modeled after the Kyushu J7W Shinden after her magical power overpowers her original Striker Unit in her campaigns in Romagna. It was lost in the Adriatic Sea shortly after the Romagna campaign when she lost her magical powers, just to be later recovered and repaired. In Strike Witches: Road to Berlin, Yoshika receive a Kawanishi N1K "Shinden Kai" as her new Striker Unit before permanently replaced by her father's restored Magnificent Lightning during Operation Southwind's final battle in Berlin.
Mio is the first Strike Witch and commander in battle of the unit, with the rank of Major. Mio is the oldest witch in the 501st at 19 years old and, like Yoshika Miyafuji, hails from Fusō. She is a veteran of the early fighting against the Neuroi. Years before the events of the series, she befriended Yoshika's father Ichirō while he was designing the Striker Unit and became the first person to pilot one. Her usual task is to train new recruits. Under Mio's eyepatch is a magic eye that grants her increased visual acuity and the ability to spot Neuroi cores when used. Being in her late teens, Mio's magical power has declined too far for her to generate effective shields in combat. However, she can still fly and use her magical eye. She carries a Type 99 aircraft cannon into battle along with a magical katana strapped to her back capable of cutting through 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. In the third season, Mio officially retires from combat due to her magic power diminishing with Shizuka assuming her position in the front lines. Her Striker Unit started out as the same production unit as Miyafuji being an A6M "Zero" model and also a Naval pilot Witch but soon changed to a model that's modeled after the Kawanishi N1K nicknamed Violet Lightning.
Minna is the 18-year-old commander of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing from Karlsland with the rank of Commander. Her first priority is the safety of her subordinates. She often acts as the "good cop" to Mio Sakamoto's "bad cop" when it comes to discipline. She has a talent for singing, having wanted to become a professional before she joined the war effort before the beginning of the series. After her close friend is killed in battle, however, Minna gives up her dream and issues an order prohibiting the male workers on the base from having unauthorized contact with the witches, hoping to spare others from the pain she experienced. She is very protective of Mio, usually intervening whenever the Major does something reckless. Her power grants her enhanced spatial awareness, allowing her to pinpoint the location and number of objects from a great distance. Her affiliation is the Karlsland JG 3 Luftwaffe. During combat she arms herself with an MG 42. Her Striker Unit is modeled after the Messerschmitt Bf 109F.
Lynette, also called "Lynne", is the only Witch in the 501st from the Britannian Commonwealth. As the middle child of eight siblings from a pretty affluent family, Lynette develops very domestic and practical habits and is also very shy and soft-spoken. After meeting Yoshika Miyafuji, the two eventually become best friends. Also proves to be a pretty good cook, often serving and preparing meals for the entire team together with Miyafuji. Lynette 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 modeled after the Supermarine Spitfire.
Perrine, full name , is a 15-year-old heiress to an influential Gallian family who looks down on some of the less-refined habits of her peers. Years before the start of the series, the Neuroi's conquest of her homeland devastated her and has caused her numerous problems. She often refuses to work as part of a team and is initially hostile towards Yoshika Miyafuji due to the latter's attachment to Mio Sakamoto, on whom Perrine has an obvious crush. Over time, Perrine is able to warm up considerably to Yoshika, and the two are shown to be good friends by the time of the movie. Perrine feels that she is responsible for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gallia after its liberation from the Neuroi and contributes her entire salary toward this end. 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 appears in episode 9 of the second season as an heirloom from her family. She uses a Bren light machine gun and PIAT. She has a lightning based spell called Tonnerre which can strike down multiple targets. Her Striker Unit is modeled after the French fighter plane, the Dewoitine D.520.
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 very messy with her belongings and often neglects cleaning chores. She is very slack, has a nonchalant attitude for military discipline, and is only serious when the situation calls for it. Consequently, she is the frequent target of the strait-laced Barkhorn's disciplinary lectures, which she normally ignores and tunes out. Her special technique is an offensive barrel roll named Sturm which manipulates powerful gusts of wind to attack enemies. In the movie, Hartmann combined her Sturm ability with Perrine's Tonnerre spell, creating a lightning storm that more than doubles the effectiveness of their individual skills. With her Striker Unit equipped, Erica gains Dachshund features. Her armaments are the MG 42 and an MP 40. Her Striker Unit also models after a variant of the Bf 109, typical of Karlsland witches.
Gertrud is an 18-year-old Witch originating from Karlsland with the rank of Captain, same as Hartmann, she also came from Luftwaffe JG 52. Quiet, efficient, and private, she tends to support her comrades from the shadows. Her calm attitude grants her 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. In Strike Witches 2, Barkhorn divides her room, which she shares with Hartmann, with a picket fence which she dubs her Siegfried Line to separate her side of the room from Hartmann's messy, unruly side. She has a younger sister named Christiane Barkhorn that she cares deeply for, and who is injured during the Neuroi invasion of her country. Yoshika's resemblance to Christiane causes Barkhorn to develop an attachment to the newest member of the 501st, and also results in occasional embarrassment for the normally stoic Barkhorn. Her magical power grants immense physical strength, to the extent where she can lift massive steel girders many times her size. For battle her armament consists of an MG 42, Panzerfaust, MG 131, or MG 151 which she dual wields, in keeping with her magically-enhanced strength. Same as both Erica and Minna, her Striker Unit models after a variant of the Bf 109.
Lucchini is the youngest member 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. In battle she displays a talent and passion for flying. In battle she carries a M1919 A6, Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm machine gun, or Beretta Model 1938A submachine gun, as well as a Beretta M1934 as her sidearm. She has the power to concentrate energy into a point in front of her and release it in a powerful burst. Working with her best friend Charlotte Yeager, who throws her, she can use this ability to deal severe damage to Neuroi. Her Striker Unit is modeled after the Italian fighter, the Macchi C.202 Folgore.