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Instead of firing, he gave a salute.
35 Whelen
Member Posts: 14,307 ✭✭✭
I think I'll be ordering that photo.[:)][8D]
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured-article/instead-of-firing-stigler-gave-a-salute-amazing-tale-of-a-desperate-wwii-pilots-encounter-with-a-german-flying-ace.html
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured-article/instead-of-firing-stigler-gave-a-salute-amazing-tale-of-a-desperate-wwii-pilots-encounter-with-a-german-flying-ace.html
An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.
Comments
Amazingly the two pilots find each other and are able to speak about that day.
Simply... Awesome!
I remember the story distinctly.
He never mentioned it when he returned to base and it was cool how they found each all those years later.
I have those sitting buried and I am guessing those Ace signatures will be worth something to my kids ($ when they sell them that is) when I pass them on or more like they find them in my junk
Wulfmann
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
Here it is.
It's about my dad (now deceased) in WWII. Young navigator on a 17, flying their last mission.
Their plane was down so they were on Old Dog, a "borrowed" plane. They complete the mission and on their exit take heavy fire over Germany. They have a jump/ride decision as they know they are going in and with 2 wounded, my dad w/a 50 cal in his leg and a gunner with one in the shoulder, they decide they are riding it out. Once they start their crash prep they see the pilot overhead and descending. Entire crew thought they were going to be shot out of the sky. With prayers in hearts and hope in hand, they see German fighter rock his wings as he settles in 100' over their 17. He's letting them crash.
As successfully as one can "auger in", theirs is. No one is lost in the landing. The towns people come out fully armed with pistols, shovels, pitchforks and shotguns and hold them until the military can arrive. They are marched all around Germany to different camps and make it through to liberation day....fast forward
Crew stays in touch, one of the "Norms" (the historian) calls my dad and says I found the pilot that shot us down (evidently all "kills" are recorded but this took Norm 5 years!)...what do you want to do...Pondering...dad gets the crew together and says he has invited and paid the way for the pilot to come from Germany to the Oshkosk fly in the year they unveiled a fully restored 17. Whoever wants to join is welcome.
End result, 6 of 8 living crew members, my dad and the German fighter show up in WI and after a touchy few hours and found great respect for each other.
About 10 years ago, my dad got to fly once more in a 17 complete with a P-51 Mustang escort. Every large and small airport in their path requested a flyby and boy did they oblige! It was a great day for him, my only request was that they bring it down a bit softer this time.#61514;
The pilot never left the US. He recently died as a CA resident and retired "glider instructor".
I don't know how many crews have met pilots that have shot them down, developed a respect for them and assisted in giving them new lives but Sieg gave me and my siblings life and my mother an great husband. I am thankful for the opportunity to thank Sieg for his compassion. For without his grace...
Thanks.Jeff
Hello All, This is an awesome story and after reading it I really debated about posting this. It is an important one to me and I hope interesting to you. I'll make it as short as possible.
It's about my dad (now deceased) in WWII. Young navigator on a 17, flying their last mission.
Their plane was down so they were on Old Dog, a "borrowed" plane. They complete the mission and on their exit take heavy fire over Germany. They have a jump/ride decision as they know they are going in and with 2 wounded, my dad w/a 50 cal in his leg and a gunner with one in the shoulder, they decide they are riding it out. Once they start their crash prep they see the pilot overhead and descending. Entire crew thought they were going to be shot out of the sky. With prayers in hearts and hope in hand, they see German fighter rock his wings as he settles in 100' over their 17. He's letting them crash.
As successfully as one can "auger in", theirs is. No one is lost in the landing. The towns people come out fully armed with pistols, shovels, pitchforks and shotguns and hold them until the military can arrive. They are marched all around Germany to different camps and make it through to liberation day....fast forward
Crew stays in touch, one of the "Norms" (the historian) calls my dad and says I found the pilot that shot us down (evidently all "kills" are recorded but this took Norm 5 years!)...what do you want to do...Pondering...dad gets the crew together and says he has invited and paid the way for the pilot to come from Germany to the Oshkosk fly in the year they unveiled a fully restored 17. Whoever wants to join is welcome.
End result, 6 of 8 living crew members, my dad and the German fighter show up in WI and after a touchy few hours and found great respect for each other.
About 10 years ago, my dad got to fly once more in a 17 complete with a P-51 Mustang escort. Every large and small airport in their path requested a flyby and boy did they oblige! It was a great day for him, my only request was that they bring it down a bit softer this time.#61514;
The pilot never left the US. He recently died as a CA resident and retired "glider instructor".
I don't know how many crews have met pilots that have shot them down, developed a respect for them and assisted in giving them new lives but Sieg gave me and my siblings life and my mother an great husband. I am thankful for the opportunity to thank Sieg for his compassion. For without his grace...
Thanks.Jeff
We will neve know how many of these stories there are, but it's important to remember that most of the soldiers and officers were good honorable men fight for their country and not evile like Hitler and his commanders.