Slightly OT, WW2

[UK_Widowmaker]

Just found this on the net.... you may have read it before, but if not...here it is..

 

Charlie Brown was a B – 17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton,

England. His B-17 was c alled ‘Ye Old Pub’ and was in a terrible state; having been hit both

by flak and fighters. Their magnetic compass was damaged and they were flying deeper into

enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton. After flying over an enemy airfield, a

pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he neared

the bomber, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he “had never seen a plane in such a bad state”. The tail and rear section was severely damaged and the tail-gunner wounded. The upper gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were gaping shrapnel holes everywhere. Despite having ammunition, Franz flew close alongside the B-17 and looked directly at the young American pilot. Brown was exhausted, very frightened and battling to maintain control of his damaged and blood-stained aircraft.

 

 

Realising that the B-17 crew had no idea where they were heading, the Me-109 pilot gestured to Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz then escorted and guided the stricken bomber back to, and out over the North Sea towards England . He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away; back to Europe. After landing he informed his C/O that the B-17 had been shot down over the sea and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown, and the survivors of his crew, told of the strange encounter at their de-briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it. More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown decided to discover if the Luftwaffe pilot who had saved he and his crew was living and, if possible, locate him. After years of research, Franz was located. He had never talked about the incident; not even at post-war reunions. They finally met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion; together with 25 people who exist now – all because Franz never fired his guns that day

Research shows that Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz Steigler had moved to Vancouver , BC after the war. When they finally met, they discovered they had lived less than 200 miles apart for the past 50 years!

Edited September 16, 2009 by UK_Widowmaker

[Hauksbee]

That is one phenominal story! And to think that neither pilot said anything for years.

[UK_Widowmaker]

Yes...an incredible story... I am sure their were many stories of Human compassion towards an enemy that are forever lost to History.

Proof indeed, that Human Beings, in their natural state, are social animals, better suited to helping each other, than killing each other en masse.

 

We as human beings would do well to take note of the actions of Franz Steigler that day!

[Hauksbee]

We as human beings would do well to take note of the actions of Franz Steigler that day!

It is heartening to know that even in a vicious, brutal war, people can rise to incredible acts of decency. But...was there any more information, specifically on Charlie Brown? I was wondering if, after that horrendus experience, did they send him up the next day? Any info on how many more missions he had to fly?

Edited September 17, 2009 by Hauksbee

[Hasse Wind]

A great story, Widowmaker. I'm sure such things happened many times during the war, we just don't know about most of them. Not all people like to talk about what they did or didn't do in the war.

[Check Six]

Thank you Franz, for being a HUMAN BEING first, and a German second.

 

May your God bless you.

 

[Von Paulus]

We as human beings would do well to take note of the actions of Franz Steigler that day!

Quoted For Truth. It's an amazing story and somehow tells a lot of what we are.

In combat situations we'll find what is best and worst in the human kind.