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Fear is a natural defense mechanism, so a "fearless" soldier is likely to end up a casualty rather sooner than later. The hero's trick is understanding one's own fear and preventing it from becoming mind-numbing terror.
The successful pilots of WWI were the ones that survived long enough to gain confidence in the air. Considering confidence as an opposite to fear, overconfidence is credited to the demise of many fearless soldiers, (MvR, Voss, Ball).
I think many pilots were fixated on victory scores and decorations as a maintenance routine for their confidence. <Wondering where I'll meet my fate is not the way an ace should be thinking...I'm a 40 victory ace in the making, so I won't be dying before then. Don't focus on the horrible losses in my squadron; focus on the horrible losses I will inflict on the enemy. Don't worry that death may come soon; wonder if that DFC is coming soon.>
I'm sure in most cases, this confidence-fortifying is a careful front to a healthy dose of fear and self-preservation, and many would trade their medals and scores for an end to their peril.
I remain,
RayK
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