[ValorStudios]

Gentlemen,

By all means, don’t get the wrong impression. In my prior post I should have been clear—I'm not trying to pretend the Experte Scwharm didn't exist or didn't overclaim. It clearly happened. In fact, in "A Higher Call" we devoted an entire chapter to discussion of it. And it’s honestly a fascinating bit of history.

And it’s based on new research. Of course, G.R. Morrison, I've had access to all the same data that Prien/Shores/Ring reported so those victory tallies aren't new to me. The victory claim times I used for August 16 are from Wood's compilation which also match FOTD.

Nick, when I mentioned having the "complete records" I'm referring to the RAF Form 441, which are the sortie reports for each squadron, filled out after each mission. FOTD used the form 440 which was the monthly summary. I consider the use of both documents together as "complete records" since you can't get any more specific than the form 441.

My goal with this post was to make one indisputable point - on a day when the Experte Schwarm has been accused of “inventing combat,” the Form 441 records show they were in fact in combat with 5 SAAF.

The records confirm this. And Russell said it best, "all of the main players could and had shot down aeroplanes."

My urging is that people consider first hand sources for this story, which are available now. It appears that everything written to date about the Experte Schwarm was devised without talking to a single pilot involved in the incident. Did anyone consult with Roedel (who handled the investigation of the Experte Schwarm), or Stigler, or Bendert, or Vogel who were all alive well into the post war years? I think not.

For "A Higher Call," we did rely on first hand perspectives, from Stigler and Rodel. And we discovered a new perspective. The Expert Flight may have been a flight of 4 but it often operated in rottes (elements). And who’s to say that each pair did not behave differently? Franz said they did.

Franz and Sawallisch would fly as wingmen at times, just the two of them. Whereas Vogel and Bendert would fly independently at another time. Russell can surely show the RAF records on Aug 10th that prove Franz and Sawallisch were in combat with 4 SAAF, there's detail of the combat and planes being downed and damaged. Whereas later that same day, Vogel and Bendert, flying alone, attacked 2 SAAF and RAF 80 and both squadrons reported "no results" and "ineffective attacks." Despite this, Vogel and Bendert each claimed two victories.

Franz and Rodel both held true to the statement that the impropriety came from the top, down. Vogel was the acting Gruppe leader at the time. Bendert was one of the highest scoring aces in the desert. Swallisch was new, transferred from the Eastern Front. And Franz was still a rookie, having been in combat just over three months.

Here's what Rodel's interview had to say about Vogel/Bendert:

“I do not think that it was a matter of intentionally lying about their victories, but it was proven to have been gross negligence in claiming victories simply because a pilot shoots at an aircraft, maybe getting hits, but not confirming the crash or the pilot getting out. The situation stained all involved in the Group and that flight, and even Stigler and I were questioned. Bad business really.”

Up to the day of his death, Franz truly believed in his victories. Roedel believed in them as well. So did Galland who allowed Franz to join JV-44. And Franz went to JG-27 reunions up to his dying day and never received anything but camaraderie and praise from his comrades who were there.

Why is it impossible for us 65+ years later to be open to the possibility that Franz Stigler flew and fought with honor? Yes, he found himself in a flight with two of the most senior pilots of the desert, who engaged in excessively lose claiming. Why does that make him guilty? Isn’t that guilty by association? And is that fair?

Russell, I’m so glad to hear that your team is working on a new version of FOTD that will include all the RAF records now available. I’ll be more than happy to send you the materials we’ve compiled including both Franz and Roedel’s commentary, what do you say? It’s my great hope that a fair and honest accounting can finally be presented, using all sources available.

- Bryan