Did you know a German pilot saved an American bomber crew in World War II?

Stories of humanity and comradeship even across battlelines arise even in the direst of conflicts. On December 20, 1943, just four days before Christmas, a German fighter ace decided to risk court-martial and execution by sparing the crew of a badly damaged Flying Fortress. (Read our earlier article)
 
The mission was the first for the crew of the Ye Olde Pub, and it took them over a Fw 190 (Read our earlier article) factory in Bremen. Heavy flak fire knocked out one of the bomber’s engines and damaged another, forcing the plane to drop out of formation and head home as a straggler. Attacks by over a dozen German fighters damaged a third engine; destroyed the nose cone, the port side elevator and half of the rudder; and hit many under systems. Almost all of the bomber’s machine guns were jammed. One crewman was decapitated by a shell, one hit in the eye, one critically wounded in the leg, and the pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Charles Brown, was hit in the shoulder. Bailing out was rejected as some men would not have survived the ordeal.

The plane was finally intercepted by the Bf 109 (Read our earlier article) of Franz Stigler, the son of a World War I pilot and an ace on his own right with 27 kills to his name at the time. Stigler was no stranger to the perils of combat, as he himself racked up six bailouts during his career. When he approached the bomber, he saw it was in no condition to fight back: the airframe was so torn up by shells and bullets that he could look inside the B-17 and see the struggling crew. One of Stigler’s superiors once told him: "If I ever see or hear of you shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself." Stigler decided that the bomber crew was just as exposed and helpless as a man in a parachute and couldn’t find the will to open fire.

He pulled up alongside the bomber and gesticulated to the bomber to land in Germany where they could get medical help. Brown either misunderstood the gestures or simply rejected the notion and continued flying toward the North Sea. Stigler kept his fighter close to the limping bomber, knowing that flak guns on the ground couldn’t open fire without risking hitting him as well. Once they were over the sea, he gesticulated again, suggesting neutral Sweden as a destination, but Brown kept flying on a course to England. Still unsure of the German pilot’s intentions, Brown had a gunner point the dorsal turret at the Bf 109 but hold fire. Getting the message, Stigler saluted and turned home, sure that the bomber would end up in the water. Knowing that he would be court-martialed and possibly executed for helping the enemy, he did not report the events. He went on to fly Me 262 jets (Read our earlier article) until the end of the war.
 
Brown’s plane miraculously got home, and he was told not to share the story with others, as the officers didn’t want the flight crews to develop positive feelings toward the enemy.

Brown first recounted the tale at a pilots’ reunion in 1986, and decided to track down the German who spared them. Four years later, after writing a letter to a combat pilots’ association newsletter, he was contacted by Stigler, who, as it turned out, had emigrated to Canada. The two pilots reunited in 1990 and remained close friends until 2008, when they died within a few months of each other.

Save 25% until September 2!

On the occasion of the upcoming 79th anniversary of V-J Day, also known as Victory over Japan Day, we are offering all our available tours with a discount of 25% if you book and pay in full until September 2, 2024. Note that this offer applies only in case of new bookings, and it cannot be combined with other special promotions. The tour price is refundable up until 90 days before departure. If you have any questions related to this promotion or our tours, please contact our travel consultants at info@beachesofnormandy.com or by calling our toll-free number: +1 855-473-1999.