Quote:
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.
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I had the privilege of meeting both of these gentlemen at a convention in 2000. The stories they each had would fill a couple of books if all were told. I heard their dual reflections on this incident at length.
In any case Steigler DID try to force Brown back to the German airfield and then to Sweden but Brown wouldn't turn. As Brown said, "I wasn't being brave or stubborn but I was just like a scared little boy who'd been beaten. All I could think was, 'run home!' "
Brown and his crew had previously been attacked by almost a score of German fighters. I heard no mention of Steigler turning Brown toward England but Brown mentioned repeatedly turning the B-17 into the attacking lines of fighters to throw off their lead so he may have been flying deeper into Germany when Steigler spotted him and turned on his own before Steigler caught up to him.
When Brown reported the incident it was stamped "Classified" and Brown and his crew were told not to mention it. The only reason speculated was that a merciful German didn't fit the profile being preached.
I was under the belief that Brown did not die until recently; last couple of months but that may be just when I heard about it.