| World of Uncle Sam, Good Old USA: 003: Special Articles For Sharing: 003 |
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| Classic Flyers... WWII Pilot to Pilot! received from Pastor Don Baron |
US friend of a friend tells us this is a true story.......and there
were some good ones !
The Story....
This one should be read around the world.
God shows up in the form of a German pilot.
fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper
fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper
over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.
over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.
After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz
Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. 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 Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and
struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained 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 remains 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 post-war 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.
were some good ones !
The Story....
This one should be read around the world.
God shows up in the form of a German pilot.
fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper
fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper
over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.
over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.
After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz
Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. 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 Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and
struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained 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 remains 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 post-war 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 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!
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!
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