[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by alex_revell

A friend sent me this, but I don't have the knowledge to post it.
A very severely damaged B17 'Ye Old Pub' of the 379th Bomber Group based at Kimbolton in England was desperately trying to make it back to base. A German pilot Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and destroy it. When he saw the state of the B17, and the fact that it was flying deeper into Germany, Steigler admired the courage of the men, hadn't the heart to shot it down and indicated to the B17 pilot, Charles Brown, that he turn 180 degrees. He escorted the B17 over the North Sea, saw it on its way back to England, then flew back to his base. He, of course, never reported the incident, telling his CO that he had destroyed the B17, and the B17 crew were ordered never to tell of it. After a great deal of research, Steigler was traced and 40 years later the men met again at a reunion of the 379th group, along with 25 people who would not have been alive if Steiger had not taken the action he did. Both Steigler and Brown died in 2008.

But (i know this is not new) war is no place for altruism! The crew that he saved may well have returned next day and killed his family----or (as part of a raid of course) hundereds of families---as i say---this is not new thought, but the dilemma remains. Not to mention the obvious fact that allowing the enemy to live---to continue the fight---is not only treason but counter-productive.

War is all hell.

Dave.