![]() ![]() "īetween 19, Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler became close friends and remained so until their deaths within several months of each other in 2008. I’ll finish this incredible story with Franz Stigler’s own words, when asked why he hadn’t destroyed his enemy that day I didn’t have the heart to finish off those brave men I flew beside them for a long time. I saw them and I couldn't shoot them down. Franz Stigler died on 22 March 2008 Charles ‘Charlie’ Brown died a few months later, on 25 November 2008. "Stigler later commented," To me, it was just like they were in a parachute. If I ever hear of any of you shooting at someone in a parachute, I'll shoot you myself. Remembering the words of one of his commanding officers from Jagdgeschwader 27, Gustav Rödel, during his time fighting in North Africa, “You are fighter pilots first, last, always. To the American pilot's surprise, Stigler did not open fire on the crippled bomber. Through the damaged bomber's airframe Stigler was clearly able to see the injured and incapacitated crew. 50 BMG slug embedded in the radiator which risked the engine overheating) and quickly caught up with Brown's plane. He soon took off in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (which had a. Luftwaffe pilot and ace Franz Stigler was ordered to shoot down the crippled bomber, but instead, for humanitarian reasons, decided to allow the crew to fly back to their airfield in England.The two pilots met each other 40 years later after an extensive search by Charlie Brown and the friendship that the two developed lasted until their deaths several months apart.īrown's damaged bomber was spotted by Germans on the ground, including Franz Stigler, who was refueling and rearming at an airfield. Franz Stigler & Charlie Brown Source: Valor Studios, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Franz learned his craft during his service in the Libyan desert, where he flew with the Knights of the Desert and their star fighter ace Hans-Joachim Marseille. The Charles Brown and Franz Stigler incident occurred on 20 December 1943, when, after a successful bomb run on Bremen, Charles 'Charlie' Brown's B-17 Flying Fortress (named" Ye Olde Pub ") was severely damaged by German fighters. I personally think it's a beautiful story Well guys, I don't know if this story has already been shared in the forum, if so, I apologize.
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