#franz stigler

[fumojuno]

PONIES! And Franz Stigler

[swedebeast]

The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler Incident

“I saw the tail gunner wasn’t there because the guns were hanging down, half the tail was missing on the left-hand side - practically no tail at all and the rudder was the same shape. So, I went up to the right side around the fuselage. It is hard to describe because an aircraft so crippled - you know positively there were badly wounded people onboard.

And for me it would have been the same as shooting at a parachute. I. Just. Couldn’t. Shoot.”

On December 20th, 1943, a B-17 bomber broke formation after a bombing mission over Germany after suffering severe damage and casualties of its crew, a lone German Me-109 fighter plane took off from an airfield undergoing refueling and re-arming fighting the same bomber formation moments earlier.

Upon seeing the damage to the B-17, seeing through the holes made on the plane the injured and locking eyes with the pilot of the bomber - Charles ‘Charlie’ Brown - the German fighter pilot Franz Stigler, who was only 1 kill away from having earned the much coveted Knight’s Cross medal, chose instead to escort the crippled bomber towards England for as far as he safely could.

Franz then saluted Charles, and returned back to his base.

Charles Brown had searched for 4 years for the identity of the German fighter pilot, and they eventually reunited in 1990. They remained close friends until Franz Stigler passed away in 2008.

[autumngracy]

The Stigler-Brown Incident

Animation clip taken from this video by C-bass Productions

[usafphantom2]

An act of mercy in the skies.

80 years ago today, Luftwaffe pilot Franz Stigler closes in on B-17 'Ye Old Pub' and seeing the crippled bomber's mauled crew, instead escorts the bomber to the coast and from where it was able to reach England. Stigler emigrated to Canada after the war and was eventually tracked down by the bomber's pilot Charlie Brown. The two would go on to become good friends.

@Vanguard_WW2 via x

[ao3feed-piltovers-finest]

Everyday Miracles

by RedPanda92

Vi is a bomber pilot, undertaking a mission to bomb munition factories in Piltover during the war. With her family on board, she thinks everything will be ok. But when their plane gets damaged and they are struggling to make it home, they come face to face with a Piltovian flying ace. With an injured crew and damaged plane, they find themselves at the Piltovian pilot's mercy. Will they get shot down or find themselves a war time miracle?

Based on the true story of Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler. Only make it lesbians.

Words: 3992, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F

Characters: Vi (League of Legends), Caitlyn (League of Legends), Jinx (League of Legends)

Relationships: Caitlyn/Vi (League of Legends)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, World War II, Minor Character Death, As in we don't even learn their name, Fighting, War, Pilot Vi, Pilot Caitlyn, Distress, Happy Ending, Angst with a Happy Ending, Based on a True Story, but gayer

Read on A03. from AO3 works tagged ‘Caitlyn/Vi (League of Legends)’

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1943 12 20 The guardian returns - Nicolas Trudgian

The aviation art print 'The Guardian Returns' by Nicolas Trudgian depicts Franz Stigler in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 returning from escorting the wounded crew members of a severely damaged B-17 Flying Fortress until they were flying over open waters. Brown's damaged bomber had been spotted by Germans on the ground, and Franz Stigler, who was refueling and rearming at an airfield, soon took off in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 and quickly caught up with Brown's plane. Through the damaged bomber's airframe Stigler was able to see the injured and incapacitated crew. To the American pilot's surprise, Stigler did not open fire on the crippled bomber. He recalled the words of one of his commanding officers from Jagdgeschwader 27, Gustav Rödel, during his time fighting in North Africa: “If I ever see or hear of you shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself." Stigler later commented, "To me, it was just like they were in a parachute. I saw them and I couldn't shoot them down."Now, it’s Franz’s life that is in danger. A quaint German village lies below, warm and inviting, just four days before Christmas. But this is wartime. If anyone reports Franz for sparing the enemy, he will face a firing squad as a traitor. No one can catch a glimpse of his markings. If Franz is to survive, he must fly, and fly fast!

[strictlyfavorites]

undefined

The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident occurred on 20 December 1943, when, after a successful bomb run on Bremen, 2nd Lt. Charles "Charlie" Brown's B-17F Flying Fortress Ye Olde Pub of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was severely damaged by German fighters. Luftwaffe pilot Franz Stigler had the opportunity to shoot down the crippled bomber but did not do so, and instead escorted it over and past German-occupied territory so as to protect it. After an extensive search by Brown, the two pilots met each other 50 years later and developed a friendship that lasted until Stigler's death in March 2008. Brown died only a few months later, in November of the same year.

[usarmytrooper]

Yes, that is a Messerschmitt of the German Luftwaffe escorting a damaged American B-17—Ye Olde Pub—during World War II. Here’s the rest of the story…

On 20 December 1943, B-17 bomber Ye Olde Pub was heavily damaged in combat. Several of its crew had been killed or wounded. Luftwaffe Oberleutnant Franz Stigler was lining up his firing run to finish Ye Olde Pub and shoot it down. This kill would earn Oberleutnant Stigler the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, one of Germany’s highest military honors. However, Stigler quickly realized that the tail gunner had never moved the guns. As he pulled his aircraft forward, Stigler could see bullet holes and large areas where concentrated fire had shorn away large swaths of Ye Olde Pub’s fuselage. Upon further inspection, Stigler saw through the holes in the fuselage that the frantic crew of Ye Olde Pub were frantically trying to save the lives of their fellow airmen. At the front of the aircraft, Stigler observed the aircraft’s shattered nose cone, and he could also see the bloodied and slumping body of Ye Olde Pub’s pilot, 2LT Charles “Charlie” Brown, struggling to control the damaged plane. Instead of firing upon the crippled aircraft, Stigler motioned for Brown to land his airplane in neutral Sweden because of the extensive damage. However, Brown didn't understand, and decided to keep flying towards England. Stigler quickly realized that Ye Olde Pub had no idea where it was headed, and so he escorted the crippled B-17 and its crew to the North Sea coast, protecting it from German anti-aircraft gunners (who recognized the silhouette of his ME-109 and held fire). Once they were over water, Stigler saluted Brown and broke formation to return to the Reich. Brown safely landed Ye Olde Pub in England.

Brown and Stigler finally met in 1990 and remained close friends until their deaths in 2008.

The crew of Ye Olde Pub:

2LT Charles Brown and Luftwaffe Oberleutnant Franz Stigler:

Photo showing some of the damage to Ye Olde Pub:

It just goes to show that you learn the true nature of a man’s heart and humanity in the strangest and most adverse of circumstances. And not every hero was on the Allied side.

[a-gency]

The Future Depends On What You Do Today.

- Mahatma Gandhi

VE Day

Franz Stigler - a German Ace Fighter Pilot, was called to an American Bomber Convoy Returning from A Mission in Bremen. Charlie Brown's B-17 ‘Ye Old Pub’, Suffered Heavy Damage & trying to Return to England. Franz Flew Alongside & was Stunned by the Enemy Planes Damage. He Knew a few Shots would bring the Aircraft down, but there was Little Glory in Shooting at Helpless Men - even though Their Bombs likely Killed His Countrymen.

It was Common for German Aircraft to Escort Captured Bombers to Germany, but Charlie was Determined to Fly back to England. Franz knew they were Dead Men unless He Helped & Flew his Messerschmidt Wing-Tip to Wing-Tip towards the Atlantic Wall. The German Spotters On The Ground Recognised One Of Their Own & both Planes Fly across the AA Guns with no Open Fire.

As They Pass Unscathed, Charlie cannot Understand or See what Stigler Has Done to Help Him until Franz Salutes & Banks Away.

Then He Understands.

Ye Old Pub makes it back to England - a Small Miracle.

But after Learning What Happened, the Commanding Officer Denied Medals For Service. The Truth Buried - The Mission Never Happened.

Franz Lands near Bremen But Can Tell No One what He’s Done as He could be Court-Martialled/Killed.

The Story Disappeared until Boeing invited Old Fighter Pilots to the 50th Anniversary of the B-17, whose First Flights were back in 1935. Franz Stigler was now Living in Vancouver, Canada. He was in Attendance as the only German Pilot & Interviewed by a local TV station to which He Told His Story.

It took until 1990 For Them to Find Each Other & Meet In Person. Their Friendship Lasted until Stigler's Death in March 2008. Brown Passed a few months later.

Even Long After The War, Franz would receive calls from Germany Telling Him He Was A Traitor, while some Canadian Neighbours Shunned Him As A Nazi.

Franz always responded:

“They Would Never Understand.”

#PeopleAreNeverJustNumbers #DontSendBoysToDoTheJobOfMen

#WeRememberYou

[jeanjauthor]

One of the commenters summed up the story:

***

@porpus99

3 weeks ago The German pilot was Oberleutnant Ludwig Franz Stigler. He was a decorated Ace in the Luftwaffe. Spotting the B-17 he closed in for what seemed an easy kill. However, paused when he noticed the tail gunner was slumped. Flying alongside the plane he saw how damaged it was, and the dead crew. The pilot of the B-17, Charlie Brown (real name), saw the fighter move alongside. Stigler would motion for Brown to land the plane. Brown refused, and expected to die. However, Stigler escorted the B-17 all the way to the coast to ensure they could make it home safely. Years after the war, Brown would post his story to a military magazine. Not knowing that Stigler actually lived about two hours away in Canada. The pair met and became great friends. Both passed away in 2008, just eight months apart from one another.

***

Another commenter added this:

@notcrazy6288

11 days ago I read an article in which Stigler remarked that his instructor drilled into him never to shoot a pilot who had parachuted from a stricken plane. This ethos is one of the things that stayed his hand in this scenario, and ultimately led to him escorting the bomber out of harm's way. It also illustrates how incredibly important good leadership is in the formation of warriors lest they become monsters.

***

I just want to repeat that last line:

It also illustrates how incredibly important good leadership is in the formation of warriors lest they become monsters.

[georgebuckettwo]

“Franz Stigler, who upon coming upon a defenseless and battered B-17, not only couldn't bring himself to shoot them down, but escorted the American crew all the way to the English channel. Along the way he warded off other German fighters and flew close enough to the aircraft that German AA wouldn't open fire on it. The crew survived the encounter and Stigler turned around and returned to his base once they left German airspace.”

[compactdynamic]

Name your top 3 favorite historical facts of all time

In no particular order

Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler

Vienna 1683

The Christmas truce of 1914

[1solone]

Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident.

The war will end, and leaders will shake hands, and the old lady will still wait for her martyred son, and that woman will wait for her beloved husband, and those children will wait for their heroic father. I don’t know who sold our homeland, but I have seen who paid the price.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Brown_and_Franz_Stigler_incident

https://href.li/?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Brown_and_Franz_Stigler_incident

[reinarandraw]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💗

Gosh, I'm so late to answer this. Thanks for the question! Click the title to go to the AO3

It's Not Fair | OFMD | Izzy/Frenchie architect modern au with kinda detailed depiction of an architect's life, chronic pain, chronic illness, songs, angst, h/c, a bittersweet ending, multiple people told me they cried ugly tears after reading this, jokes on them I cried too

Last Voyage | OFMD | Sam Bellamy/Izzy, a pirate smut novel that started with the question "What if Izzy work for Sam Bellamy instead of selling Stede to the navy", gratuitous smut, fluff, stealth angst because I'm the author, OCs but people say they're all delightful, romantic comedy with a genre shift during the last arc, Kraken!Edward is trying to find Izzy and he's not nice to people, DARK!ED IS DARK I'M SORRY, happy ending for our lovely couple

Coffee Philosophy | OFMD | Sam Bellamy/Izzy, WIP, modern au series, recently divorced coffee shop owner Izzy, billionaire public figure Sam with a questionable business ethic, Fluffy 1st arc, it's going to get sad in Arc 2 sorry, mental health, this is no longer a Hallmark movie, an attempt to portray a realistic relationship between a nobody and a billionaire, heavy emphasize on 'an attempt' because this is just a fanfic and I write what I want which torturing Sam Bellamy

Wolf of Dunwall | Dishonored | Daud/Martin | I've been a niche pairing enjoyed since day 1, an AU where Daud never became an assassin and was friend with Corvo, Spymaster!Daud because that's a sexy concept, Corvo and Daud as brothers, Spy Fic but it's more 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' vibe rather than James Bond, scheming and bickering because Daud is a spymaster not a field agent, there's an rebellion in Morley, I'm writing my own Morley lore, Martin is the High Overseer and he's a snake

No Bullets Fly | Shadow and Bones | Ivan/Fedyor | Ivan is a druskele here, no he's not secretly a grisha, heavily inspired by the 'Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler Incident' from WW II, a druskele escorting a wounded grisha, I love these two but I like to make them suffer first

[teledyn]

"If I ever see or hear of you shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself."