However, before leaving the stricken B-17, Stigler murmured: “Good luck, you are in God’s hands.”īack on the ground, Stigler reported he was certain the bomber crashed into the sea.Īgainst all odds and continuing at low altitude, Old Pub continued flying west. The German doubted the stricken B-1 7 would make it to England.īrown and Luke were amazed when the German saluted, then peeled off and made his departure. The pilot shook his head a second time.īy remaining alongside the battered bomber, Stigler provided the B-1 7 protection from numerous anti-aircraft batteries in the area, finally reaching open water. Making a second attempt, Stigler pointed north, encouraging Old Pub to make for Sweden. Shocked by the close-up view of the enemy fighter, both pilots were surprised and shaken when the German signaled they should land. Both pilots knew they had little chance of survival.ĭrawing alongside the American bomber, Stigler saw Brown fighting to retain control. Yet after viewing Old Pub, the German decided the bomber was much like an airman in a parachute.īy that time, the co-pilot had returned to his seat with word the other crewmen were unwilling to bail out even though they all knew the 109 could easily shoot them out of the sky. Had he downed Old Pub, his 24th victory, Stigler would qualify for a Knight’s Cross. Years earlier, his commanding officer had warned Stigler if he ever targeted a flyer in a parachute, he personally would shoot him. And yet after he saw the battered aircraft barely stumbling through the sky, he had second thoughts. ![]() He himself would be shot if he allowed the enemy plane to escape. Stigler was well-aware his job was to down the four-engine B-17. Though none on board could view it, half the rudder had been shot away. The tail gunner had been killed by 20mm shells, the top turret was empty, the radio room had been blown apart, the waist gun was missing and through an opening in the side of the fuselage Stigler saw crewmen caring for the wounded. While struggling to keep his plane in the air, the pilot, Charlie Brown, had the feeling he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. With one engine silent, a second running wild and a third barely in operation, Old Pub dropped out of formation and had become a straggler. Sam Blackford was ball gunner, while Sgt. Other members of the crew were Second Lt. The heavily damaged fortress carried the name “Ye Olde Pub,” chosen by its pilot, Second Lt. Ready to open fire, Franz was astonished the plane was still in the air - he had never before seen an aircraft virtually shot to pieces. While stationed at Wiesbaden a short time later, Franz was one of many pilots who fought British-based four-engines pounding Germany.įrom the airfield at Jever, Stigler spotted a crippled bomber and, climbing back into the air, approached the enemy from the rear. In May 1942, he made his first kill, an RAF P-40, then survived being shot down by an American P-40 three miles off of Sicily. ![]() ![]() Selected by the Luftwaffe in 1937, Franz became a flight instructor and following the outbreak of the war was based at Martuba in North Africa. At age 12, Stigler made his first flight in a glider, later became a pilot for Lufthansa making flights to London, Rome and Barcelona.
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