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  #1  
Old 16th January 2008, 18:50
Peglar Peglar is offline
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Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Greetings Peglar

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']
[/font]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']A most unusual story. [/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif'][/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England . His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.

After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a bad state'. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere .

Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane. Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to and slightly over the North Sea towards England He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe.

When Franz landed he told the C/O that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions. They met in the USA at a 379th. Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.[/font]

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  #2  
Old 17th January 2008, 01:29
shooshoobaby shooshoobaby is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

Peglar -
Correction -
The B - 17 was on a Heading for England when it passed over
the LW Base. Franz Steiglar took off and caught up to them.
Mike
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  #3  
Old 17th January 2008, 03:45
BC BC is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

The B-17 landed at Seething in Norfolk, home of the 448BG (B-24s). I am not aware of any pictures of the shot-up B-17 in existance.

BC
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Old 17th January 2008, 04:25
VtwinVince VtwinVince is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

This incident has come up before. The Luftwaffe pilot was Oberleutnant Franz Stigler of JG 27, a family friend since he flew with my uncle in Africa in 1942. I have had dinner with Franz and Charlie Brown in the past, and there is some controversy in certain circles as to the veracity of this whole story. Keep in mind that Stigler was a member of the schwarm which included Erwin Sawallisch and which was accused of faking claims in Africa. I believe this led to the unexplained death of Sawallisch. Also, considering that shooting down viermots at this stage of the war was considered a duty and honor in light of the death toll of German civilians, it doesn't seem likely that a Jagdwaffe pilot would willingly let his victim go, especially since consequences for doing so could be negative. I'm not saying that chivalrous acts did not occur, but the participants in this alleged incident have gotten alot of "mileage" out of it.
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Old 22nd January 2008, 16:21
JACK COOK JACK COOK is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

In all the info I've seen on Franz jumps from Africa to JV-44 in 1945. When did he return to Germany and what units did he fly with? I noted the insignia of the 109 in the painting shows IIJG27. Had they returned from Italy by this time in 1943? I recall reading in Fighters Over The Desert regarding the faked claims recalling there was a eyewhitness from another unit (?). What happended to Erwin Sawallisch ?? I've had my doubts about this painting. For years Franz and Kelly Gross talked about doing a book where they traced their paths until they crssed over for a big dogfight but that never came to be and Kelly recently completed his own book. Is the painting and episode a result of the origial idea for the book that never came to be???
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Old 23rd January 2008, 01:42
VtwinVince VtwinVince is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

From what I've heard, Sawallisch committed suicide by flying into the ground. I have a copy of the painting, and I'm not sure about the veracity of the details. Franz flew in the Reichsverteidigung with JG 27 as Kapitaen of 12. Staffel, and there is no doubting his bravery in this period. He still has a hole in his forehead from a .50 slug from when he was attacking a Viermot. He was also awarded the DKiG during this period. Apparently he did not fly any combat with JV 44.
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Old 23rd January 2008, 06:15
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Horst Kube Horst Kube is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

Quote:
Originally Posted by VtwinVince View Post
From what I've heard, Sawallisch committed suicide by flying into the ground. I have a copy of the painting, and I'm not sure about the veracity of the details. Franz flew in the Reichsverteidigung with JG 27 as Kapitaen of 12. Staffel, and there is no doubting his bravery in this period. He still has a hole in his forehead from a .50 slug from when he was attacking a Viermot. He was also awarded the DKiG during this period. Apparently he did not fly any combat with JV 44.
Vince, is that the painting you mean? An American friend wrote me to this: Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz had moved to Vancouver after the war. When they finally met, they discovered they had lived 200 miles apart for the past 50 years.
Best regards, Horst

Last edited by Horst Kube; 13th January 2014 at 17:41.
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Old 24th January 2008, 02:24
VtwinVince VtwinVince is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

Hi Horst,

No, the painting I'm thinking of is much more primitive, and shows the B-17 in side view. The one you've shown is really quite nice. Anyway, Franz is a real gentleman, and the last surviving German veteran from our Stammtisch Vancouver, which was founded under the auspices of the Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger many years ago.
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Old 25th January 2008, 16:25
JACK COOK JACK COOK is offline
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Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

Is it know for sure actually now many he downed in Africa? Also the same for Europe or Russia?
"Reichsverteidigung" forgive my ignorance for my knowledge of the German language consists of being able to count to ten!
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Old 25th January 2008, 22:08
Stig Jarlevik Stig Jarlevik is online now
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Smile Re: Franz Steiger meets Charlie Brown 379th

Hi Guys

Perhaps a bit of trivia regarding Franz, but was is his real last name?
Some articles on the net call him either Stigler (and so does an old issue of the American magazine Wings)or Stiegler. Jochen Prien says his last name was Stiegler as well. In the various previous texts you manage to call him Steiger, Steigler,Steiglar and Stigler. Perhaps it is time we unit and call him under his REAL last name?

Cheers
Stig
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