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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: SectorNine50 on May 24, 2009, 12:25:53 AM

Title: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: SectorNine50 on May 24, 2009, 12:25:53 AM
Pretty cool story, not sure if it's well known or not, but I thought it was worth sharing:

http://www.snopes.com/military/charliebrown.asp

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/SectorNine50/109EscortsB-17.png)
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Spikes on May 24, 2009, 01:05:53 AM
IT's been posted here a few times, amazing read.
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Nilsen on May 24, 2009, 02:43:09 AM
new story to me.. thx  :aok
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: oakranger on May 24, 2009, 02:50:46 AM
I would have done the same thing. 

What are the odds for them two living so close from each other yet not knowing about it.   :salute to Franz Stigler for being a human.
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: oakranger on May 24, 2009, 03:20:03 AM
I just read more about Franz Stigler.  He started with a 109f, 109g-6 and 109k.  He also flew a 262, and up in a capture Hurrican and Spit.  He was with JG-27 in Africa and JV44 (262 "WHITE 3")

He survived the war having flown over 500 combat missions, was shot down 17 times, captured once briefly and had 28 confirmed victories to his credit, including 11 four-engine bombers, plus over 30 other “probables”. he was decorated with the Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Iron Cross 1st Class, and the German Cross in Gold.

The day he escort that B-17, he shot down 2 other B-17 earlyer. 
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Serenity on May 24, 2009, 05:33:37 AM
.
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Angus on May 24, 2009, 08:19:34 AM
From the other side, - an allied airman after shooting down a He-111 over the med:
"I felt a great elation over this victory, and my pleasure was no less when I observed four parachutes hanging in the air below, and a small warship on the sea heading towards us. These airmen had put up a good fight and, although they were the enemy, I was glad to see that they had survived. I flew slowly past the top parachute and saw the airman wave to me"

I should be able to dig up the date and location, - would be interesting to compare with LW losses that day.

Anyway, an interesting article.
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Die Hard on May 24, 2009, 11:07:54 AM
I was saddened to see that both Stigler and Brown passed away last year.

 :salute
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: crazyivan on May 24, 2009, 04:43:09 PM
Thats true Chuck Norris. :salute Franzz
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: fd ski on May 25, 2009, 04:38:44 AM
Both of those gents were at Warbirds con back in 2000 or 1999 in Raleigh NC. Col Gabreski was there too. They sure had some excellent stories.
Over 300 pilots, it was the highest point of conventions up to date. I'll see if i can dig up some pictures...
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: SectorNine50 on May 25, 2009, 02:42:15 PM
From the other side, - an allied airman after shooting down a He-111 over the med:
"I felt a great elation over this victory, and my pleasure was no less when I observed four parachutes hanging in the air below, and a small warship on the sea heading towards us. These airmen had put up a good fight and, although they were the enemy, I was glad to see that they had survived. I flew slowly past the top parachute and saw the airman wave to me"

I should be able to dig up the date and location, - would be interesting to compare with LW losses that day.

Anyway, an interesting article.

Out of curiosity, do you happen to have a link to the story from the quote above?  I like reading these stories. :P
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Bark0 on May 25, 2009, 07:43:58 PM
Search the Il2 Movie "Not My Time to die" About Robert Johnson.

Not a whole lot of people Fight With Honor in game (NOT going into this again)


Long movie, Big download but its worth the watch. I was in tears at the end.  :cry


Good read

Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Selino631 on May 26, 2009, 07:01:14 PM
great story :aok
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Reaper90 on May 29, 2009, 06:55:14 AM
 :salute
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: fd ski on February 08, 2015, 01:22:47 PM
Found the promised pictures.

Raleigh con was in 2000. Guests of honor - Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, Franz Stiegler and Charlie Brown (in picture as listed)

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/447.jpg)

They told the story to auditorium of 300+ virtual pilots :)

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/453.jpg)

Here they are with their wives - probably during Gabby's speech. He sure told us we were one screwed up generation :) But stories after that made 20 minutes of preaching worth it.
(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/456.jpg)

And here is Gabby, who as a proper roman catholic needed to get to proper roman catholic mass on sunday. Since our squadron was hosting him, we drove around NC for quite a while looking for one :) We did succeed in the end.

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/458.jpg)

And our squadron with our guest Gabby.

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/460.jpg)

I can't believe that was 15 years ago...
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Kenne on February 08, 2015, 01:28:25 PM
I was there.


Found the promised pictures.

Raleigh con was in 2000. Guests of honor - Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, Franz Stiegler and Charlie Brown (in picture as listed)

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/447.jpg)

They told the story to auditorium of 300+ virtual pilots :)

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/453.jpg)

Here they are with their wives - probably during Gabby's speech. He sure told us we were one screwed up generation :) But stories after that made 20 minutes of preaching worth it.
(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/456.jpg)

And here is Gabby, who as a proper roman catholic needed to get to proper roman catholic mass on sunday. Since our squadron was hosting him, we drove around NC for quite a while looking for one :) We did succeed in the end.

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/458.jpg)

And our squadron with our guest Gabby.

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/460.jpg)

I can't believe that was 15 years ago...

Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: PR3D4TOR on February 08, 2015, 01:30:37 PM
That's amazing fd ski! What an honor!

Green with envy here!  :D
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: -ammo- on February 08, 2015, 02:53:37 PM
Found the promised pictures.

Raleigh con was in 2000. Guests of honor - Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, Franz Stiegler and Charlie Brown (in picture as listed)

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/447.jpg)

They told the story to auditorium of 300+ virtual pilots :)

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/453.jpg)

Here they are with their wives - probably during Gabby's speech. He sure told us we were one screwed up generation :) But stories after that made 20 minutes of preaching worth it.
(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/456.jpg)

And here is Gabby, who as a proper roman catholic needed to get to proper roman catholic mass on sunday. Since our squadron was hosting him, we drove around NC for quite a while looking for one :) We did succeed in the end.

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/458.jpg)

And our squadron with our guest Gabby.

(http://fdski.nazwa.pl/jaroszewska/wbcon/460.jpg)

I can't believe that was 15 years ago...


Nice - I was there and was able to steal a few moments from Gabby for a short conversation
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: Obie303 on February 10, 2015, 01:15:36 PM
Thanks for sharing fd ski! 

I understand why Gabreski was the guest of honor after I saw your squadron's polo shirts. :salute
Title: Re: German 109 Escorts B-17 Home
Post by: DREDIOCK on February 10, 2015, 09:12:23 PM
They were going to supposedly make this into a movie. Wonder what happened  

http://www.movieinsider.com/m11841/a-higher-call/