[G.R.Morrison]

As some in this thread wondered about other details, here are some notes I put together. “de mortius nil nisi bonum” and all that sort of thing, but...

Stigler was a member of the 4./JG 27 in North Africa at the time of its hushed-up false-claiming scandal. During the summer of 1942, following the retreat of the British Army to the El Alamein line, R.A.F. activity dropped off to nearly zero. YET, on almost every mission, the "Expert Schwarm" (composed of Vogel, Sawallisch, Bendert and Stigler) of the 4./JG 27 returned with claims for multiple kills. (Stigler’s 2. – 16. aerial victories were claimed between 26.June – 16.August 1942, and ten of these in a ten-day period of 6. – 16.August.)

Other pilots marvelled at their success, but non – 4./JG 27 personnel with a lot of experience, such as Stahlschmidt, Boerngen and Sinner all doubted the claims being made. One day, however, a very experienced pilot of the 2./JG 27 ("Fifi" Stahlschmidt, who later, at the time of his death, was the German pilot with the MOST combat flights in theatre) landed to report that he'd witnessed this flight of four Messerschmitts repeatedly diving toward empty sand dunes and firing their guns -- at nothing.

These four (including Stigler) submitted more claims for this flight. The Gruppenkommandeur, Gustav Roedel, grilled these fliers, and this 'team' was broken up. The highest claimant, Erwin Sawallisch, disappeared over the sea on a "test flight" not long afterward, and his body was washed ashore later. Another, Karl-Heinz Bendert was eventually awarded the Ritterkreuz! Stigler continued flying to the end of the war -- which for a German fighter plot was no mean feat in itself. Ordinarily, this sort of thing would have been the subject of a court martial, but JG 27 was already under-strength, and then came the British offensive in October, with the retreat across Libya and withdrawal to Sicily, and eventually north to Austria to serve in the Reichsverteidigung (home defense).

I'll be curious to read what Shores may have to say regarding this incident when he releases his re-worked History of the Mediterranean Air War, Vol. 2, but we're still awaiting Vol.1

I'm sure that this B-17 incident has been embellished in the retelling, something along the lines of, "The fish that gets away always looks big."

20.December 1943 – the German defense claimed 45 aircraft shot down; the 8th Air Force admitted 27 four-engined and 6 fighter losses.

Only one B-17 was claimed by the II/JG 27 on this date, Lt. Eberhard Schade of 5./JG 27 for his 3rd victory.

“Ye Olde Pub” of 527th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, was serial #23167, coded FO*S. Group marking was a ‘K’ in a triangle (the triangle represented the First Bomb Division of the 8th). On 20.December it made it back to England, but landed at Seething Airfield (not its home base), then was transferred to the 2nd Strategic Air Depot on 22.December for repairs, returned to its Group on 2.March 1944

Stigler’s claims at this time include his 21. (HSS) and 22. on 29. November 1943, but his 23. & 24. came on 19.March 1944 (i.e., NONE in December 1943 – Feb. 1944 period).

After his 22nd claim, Stigler flew with the IV/JG 27, leading 12./JG 27.
As mentioned above, his 23. & 24. came on 19.March 1944, his 25. on 3.April and his 26. on 24.April. He was then transferred to 8./JG 27, which was renumbered 11./JG 27. His 27th (a Spitfire) was claimed on 16.August 1944, 2 km NW of Orphin, France.

He was transferred to the EJG 1 (a training unit) after 27.October 1944

GRM