When an Enemy Was a Friend

[B-17engineer]

Just read this... about Charlie Brown..

" 2ND Lt. Charlie Brown was a B-17F Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th
Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England. His B-17F was called "Ye Olde Pub" and
was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass
was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of
heading home to Kimbolton. Most of the tail half of the stabilizer were gone.

After flying over an enemy airfield, a pilot named Franz Stigler
was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17F. When he got near
the B-17, 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 top gunner was all over the top of the
fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere.

Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17
and looked at 2nd Lt. Charlie Brown, Lt. Brown was scared and
struggling to control his damaged and bloodstained plane.

Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved
at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken
plane to and slightly over the North Sea towards England. He then saluted
Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe.

When Franz landed he told the C.O. that the plane had been shot
down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and
the remainder of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered
never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the
Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was
found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at postwar
reunions.

They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together
with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns
that day.

Research shows that 2nd Lt. Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz
Stigler 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!"

 

[Matt308]

Yep that is a great story.

 

[B-17engineer]

I'm sure most have heard of Robert Johnson and his encounter with Egon Mayer?

There is a very similar story involving an American 56th Fighter Group pilot, Major Robert S. Johnson.

He was flying a mission in his P-47 T-bolt when he was jumped by the famous Egon Mayer in his Fw-190.

After a considerable aerial combat between the two Johnson's P-47 was badly shot up and ready for the coup-de-grace but for some reason Mayer, who was lined up to deliver the killer blow, never followed through his attack.

Instead he broke of the attack and climbed alongside the badly damaged T-bolt and escorted Johnson to the English coast before waggling his wings in salute and flying off.

Johnson managed to land his badly damaged aircraft and went on to become an Ace with 27 kills.

From a book I have

http://www.airartnw.com/notmyturn.htm

 

[GrauGeist]

Hadn't heard about that one, Matt...sounds interesting, though!

That's the one, H! Mayer escorted the Jug back after brawling with him...heck of a story!

 

[seesul]

I got a little bit different story but heard it from a friend of mine as it happened to him.

After he bailed out and was captured by Germans they put him to the solitary cell in my born town. After 2 or 3 days spent there with no food and water one German pilot came in and told him in a broken English (like me ): 'I´m the one who shot your plane down. I know B-17 is a good plane but Messerchmidt is better. Anyhow, is there something I could help you with?''

My friend said:'' yep, I got no food nor drink since I´m here.''

The German pilot got pretty mad and yelled at all around to bring him a food and drink asap. Then he waited till my friend ate and drunk it up all and gave him a box of cigarettes, lite one with him and said:'' I can´t give you a lighter but every time you wanna smoke tell the blonde girl behind the door and she will light it.''

Then he lifted up his hand saying 'Heil Hitler' and went away. My friend never saw him again.

I was searching for this pilot but it wasn´t easy as his name and surname appeared in several forms in the books and internet.After a lot of attempts I found his address. Sent him a letter in 2005 and no answer. 3 or 4 months later I got and answer from his daughter. She told me her father died in June 2004...she also sent me a lot some pics of him and also a copy his complete log book.

He visited my friend in jail just because he was shot down the same day and bailed out. We have the engine, machine guns, cannon and another parts from his G-14AS in our museum.

Jean-Yves Lorant was in touch with him for a long period and said he was a very kind man...

Yep, that friend of mine is the one in my siggy.

I still regret I wasn´t able to get them both in touch before 2004...