Amazing story of the air war in europe

Con · December 09, 2012, 03:52:34 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2245472/Amazing-tale-WWII-pilots-encounter-German-flying-ace-saluted-American-plane-let-fly-safely-instead-shooting-down.html

Pretty moving story

Con

bob48 · December 09, 2012, 03:58:45 PM

Remarkable.

TheCommandTent · December 09, 2012, 04:02:50 PM

Great story thanks for sharing Con.

LongBlade · December 09, 2012, 04:14:09 PM

That's the second story like that I've heard.

Was watching one of those shows on the Military Channel and there was a P-47 pilot who got the crap shot out of him by a German plane. Ultimately the German pulled up along side and saluted the guy before disengaging.

Staggerwing · December 09, 2012, 04:16:04 PM

Interesting stories. Thanks for bring them to our attention.

Longdan · December 09, 2012, 04:41:33 PM

Thanks that is indeed unusual. Too bad they couldn't have
killed the people involved in Redtails before it came out.

Staggerwing · December 09, 2012, 04:50:11 PM

That's kinda harsh, man. Some of those folk were only there to keep the craft service tables stocked or drive the little golf cart taxis around the Movie lot.

Steelgrave · December 09, 2012, 05:19:34 PM

That's a great story. How awesome that they both survived and lived to a ripe old age. A deacon I served with was a WWII vet. He had been a tail gunner on a B-17. The aircraft went down over Germany on his very first combat mission and he spent two years in a German POW camp. It wasn't anything he would talk about. Thanks for sharing, Con.

LongBlade · December 09, 2012, 05:21:24 PM

Quote from: Steelgrave on December 09, 2012, 05:19:34 PM
That's a great story. How awesome that they both survived and lived to a ripe old age. A deacon I served with was a WWII vet. He had been a tail gunner on a B-17. The aircraft went down over Germany on his very first combat mission and he spent two years in a German POW camp. It wasn't anything he would talk about. Thanks for sharing, Con.

That's the thing that makes this so much fun for me - the appreciation of history and the wealth of knowledge our community has. It's great when we share.

Longdan · December 09, 2012, 05:23:49 PM

They also serve who drive golf carts..

Staggerwing · December 09, 2012, 05:28:20 PM

LOL

besilarius · December 09, 2012, 07:23:06 PM

Think I recall a story about a P47 that was being shot up by a Focke-Wolf, but the 47 just wouldn't go down. The german pilot pulled alongside, saluted, and left.
Not positive, but the pilot may have been Don Gentile or Duane Beeson.

Jack Nastyface · December 11, 2012, 05:37:51 PM

Franz Stigler lived in White Rock, BC (on the outskirts of Vancouver) until his death a couple of years ago. Every Sunday morning he would gather with a bunch of other pilots at the cafe at the Boundary Bay airport (about 10 minute drive from my house) for morning-long bull sessions. IIRC, Stigler later flew 262's towards the end of the war and was damaged by another local resident / veteran who also sometimes breakfasted at the airport. Said sessions were also attended by a RAF pilot who flew hundreds of missions as a photo recce pilot in a spitfire - no guns, just speed - but who still managed to score 1 maneouver kill vs an Italian fighter.

Gusington · December 11, 2012, 06:56:24 PM

Great story. Were instances of German pilots shooting at parachutes, etc., more common than we would like to believe?

bayonetbrant · December 11, 2012, 09:04:37 PM

Quote from: Jack Nastyface on December 11, 2012, 05:37:51 PMSaid sessions were also attended by a RAF pilot who flew hundreds of missions as a photo recce pilot in a spitfire - no guns, just speed - but who still managed to score 1 maneouver kill vs an Italian fighter.

How jacked up do you have to be to get shot down by a guy with no guns on-board? What did the RAF guy do, fart on him?