Why a German pilot escorted American bomber to safety?
Why a German pilot escorted American bomber to safety?
Luftwaffe pilot Franz Stigler had the opportunity to shoot down the crippled bomber but did not do so, and instead escorted it over and past German-occupied territory so as to protect it.
What happened to ye olde pub b17?
In 1979, Doc Hospers of Fort Worth, Texas purchased the airplane and restored it to flying condition. The airplane was then sold to Jerry Yagen at the Military Aviation Museum in 2009 before being purchased by Erickson in 2013. Of the B-17 “Pathfinders” that were built, it is the only one left in existence.
Is Franz Stigler still alive?
Deceased (1915–2008)
Franz Stigler/Living or Deceased
What happened Franz Stigler?
The story was kept secret for many years, but in 1990 Stigler and Charles Brown (the pilot of the B-17) finally reunited and were close friends until their deaths in 2008. Stigler died in Canada, where he moved to after the war.
How many German fighters were shot down by bombers?
309 German fighters
After the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, the USAAF stated that they shot down 309 German fighters, broken-down as follows: gunners on the bombers claimed 288, Spitfire pilots claimed 7, and P-47 pilots claimed 14.
What type of planes did the Tuskegee fighter pilots have?
The Tuskegee Airmen planes were primarily, but not exclusively, the following five WW2 aircraft:
- Bell P-39 Airacobra.
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.
- North American B-25 Mitchell.
- North American P-51 Mustang.
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
How many b17s are left?
Many surviving examples are painted to represent actual planes that flew in combat. Today, 46 planes survive in complete form, 10 of which are airworthy, and 39 of which reside in the United States.
Where is Franz Stigler buried?
Ludwig Franz Stigler died 22-03-2008, aged 92, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Charlie Brown died 8 month later on 24-11- 2008, age 86 in Florida and is buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery South Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Did Franz Stigler get the Knight’s Cross?
The Luftwaffe pilot, 28-year-old Franz Stigler, already had 27 victory tallies to his name. If he achieved 30 victory tallies, he would be eligible for the highest award of Nazi Germany, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.
Who shot down the most German planes in ww2?
Erich Hartmann
A new book examines the life of the WWII German ace. While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.
Are any of the original Tuskegee Airmen still alive?
Woodhouse (LAW’55) is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first all-Black combat flying unit, which flew during World War II. Unit members weren’t even allowed to be trained alongside white soldiers.
Who was the best fighter pilot in World War 2?
The Most Notable Fighter Aces of World War II Larry Holzwarth – October 31, 2020 Arguably the most famous fighter pilot in history, Germany’s Manfred Von Richthofen shot down 80 enemy airplanes during World War I. That total made the Red Baron the leading fighter ace of the war, with more kills than any other pilot of any nation.
Who was the best German ace in WW2?
Kurt Knispel (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a Sudeten German Heer panzer loader, gunner and later commander, and was the highest scoring tank ace of World War II with a total of 168 confirmed tank kills; the actual number, although unconfirmed, may be as high as 195.
What was the fastest fighter plane of World War 2?
The WWII British Spitfire was one of the ultimate fighters of the war, had tremendous fire power and could climb to a high rate of altitude at a very fast rate. This Spitfire could reach 454 mph and had a range of up to 850 miles.
Who is the greatest fighter pilot?
Erich Hartmann: The Greatest Fighter Pilot of All Time. Hartmann chalked up most of his victories on the Eastern Front . He remains the greatest fighter pilot of all time in terms of enemy aircraft destroyed.