Wwi aviation anecdote

[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Bristol,
Those were exactly my thoughts. Why didn't he just guide them to land at a German 'drome, but nevertheless that's what apparently happened. He would have been in real trouble if anyone had found out, probably have been shot. After all, the Americans and us were reagrded as terror flyers.

Strange---the Germanic thought process in those distant days! They never considered themselves 'terror flyers'---yet, at the risk of sounding simplistic, they started it! And all the worry about bombing morality (i'm thinking area bombing here) seems to forget that the V.1 and V.2 were terror flying weapons par excellence

Dave.

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Your welcome AVG!

I would like to see your photos!Your photos may have stuff that will be of interest of us enthusiast.We currently don't have the date of his death listed on his profile on this site.Do you know the date?Who knows,maybe us WW1 aviation fans might spot something new in your photos

[AGV]

Hello Willi,

I'll be posting some of these photos in the next few days. I'll let you know when I do so through a message.

I've noticed that the place and date of his death don't appear on his profile. How can I do to have them listed?

Best regards,

AGV

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Just mention the date on this thread and a member that does all the editing would pick up on it and he'll add it to his profile.We all would love to see your photos,can't wait Good luck!

[Epee]

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.

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.

[Ginger.]

Bob Doe escorted a shot up 109 back over the Channel in 1940.

Avi-Art News: The Bob Doe Collection

[bristol scout]

Hi Ginger,

Allowed him to put it down in the sea Ginger. That is chivalry and compassion for a fellow human, enemy or not. To blatantly let your (and your country's) enemy 'live to fight another day'---well, as i said--that's treason and risking him killing you--or your comrades--tomorrow.

Not an easy one, that! As a humanist----very laudable. As a soldier--Hmmmm.! i don't know.

Dave.

[AGV]

Willi:

I'm posting a FFA 23 photo in which my great grandfather Hermann Vallendor appears (first one standing from the left). Obviously you'll also recognise Rudolf Berthold in it.

Hope you enjoy it.

Regards,

AGV.

[Barrett]

I knew Franz Stigler a bit more than casually. We shared ramp space at Northwest airshows a coupla times (he had a borrowed Me.108 complete with victory bars on the rudder). The Stiglers were prominent at airshow hangar parties, as Haya was a lady of Wagnerian physique who loved to dance. IIRC she was fond of polkas and would sweep the floor with any aviator willing to partner with her.

Franz made friends with a 9th AF ace, and they were always threatening to write an expose' of WW II. The theme was to be the similarities rather than the differences between the Army Air Force and the Luftwaffe, as both organizations were capable of real screwups. One of the nonaviation problems Franz mentioned was his notably unsuccessful attempt at driving a former classmate's tank. His borrowed panzer clipped the edge of a house, resulting in structural damage. What to do?

As luck had it, ANOTHER classmate happened along, who commanded an engineering unit. House repaired, problem solved.

Alas, Franz died before Das Buch could be finished.

[Willi Von Klugerman]

AVG,thats a very interesting photo!We fellow dromers are always welcome to see new things