Posted on Oct 30, 2015
German Officer gave his life trying to save a wounded American Soldier during WWII. Was his act of heroism particularly noteworthy?
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WWII World War Two
Warfare
Heroes
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Edited >1 y ago
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There are many stories from WWII that highlight the chivalry displayed. The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident occurred on 20 December 1943, when, after a successful bomb run on Bremen, Charles 'Charlie' Brown's B-17 Flying Fortress was severely damaged by German fighters. Luftwaffe ace Franz Stigler had the opportunity to shoot down the crippled bomber, but instead, for humane reasons, decided to allow the crew to fly back to their airfield in England. The two pilots met each other 40 years later after an extensive search by Charlie Brown and the friendship that the two developed lasted until Stigler's death in March 2008. This occurred as well during WWI during the Christmas Day Truce in 1915 - Brits and Germans played soccer. Personally I lack this kind of understanding - more than likely I would have shot him to put him out of his misery and as to avoid injury or death of others.
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SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres
Thank-you for listing the examples that you did in your response; and for your honest reflection on what you possibly might have done.
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SFC Jim Ruether
Ok I have to add a joke in here. Many of you perhaps have heard it before, so share it...... but I laugh every time I read it.
World war II joke
[login to see] .edu (A. Ozselcuk)
University of California, Berkeley
(laugh, heard it, swearing)
A World War II pilot is reminiscing before school children about his days in the Air Force. (Joke best delivered with a good thick accent)
"In 1942," he says, "the situation was really tough. The Germans had a very strong Air Force. I remember, " he continues, "one day I was protecting the bombers in my P-51 Mustang and suddenly, out of the clouds, these Fokkers appeared.
(At this point, several of the children giggle.)
I looked up, and right above me was one of them. I aimed at him and shot him down. They were swarming on me now. I immediately realized that there was another Fokker behind me."
At this instant the girls in the auditorium start to giggle and boys start to laugh. The teacher stands up and says, "I think I should point out that 'Fokker' was the name of the German-Dutch aircraft company"
"That's true," says the pilot, "but these Fokkers were flying Messerschmidts."
World war II joke
[login to see] .edu (A. Ozselcuk)
University of California, Berkeley
(laugh, heard it, swearing)
A World War II pilot is reminiscing before school children about his days in the Air Force. (Joke best delivered with a good thick accent)
"In 1942," he says, "the situation was really tough. The Germans had a very strong Air Force. I remember, " he continues, "one day I was protecting the bombers in my P-51 Mustang and suddenly, out of the clouds, these Fokkers appeared.
(At this point, several of the children giggle.)
I looked up, and right above me was one of them. I aimed at him and shot him down. They were swarming on me now. I immediately realized that there was another Fokker behind me."
At this instant the girls in the auditorium start to giggle and boys start to laugh. The teacher stands up and says, "I think I should point out that 'Fokker' was the name of the German-Dutch aircraft company"
"That's true," says the pilot, "but these Fokkers were flying Messerschmidts."
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SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres
1stSgt, no problem; it was my leasure to pass this article on. I hope people take the time to read the article.
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1stSgt (Join to see)
SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres , there are a ton of history buffs on here who will read it.
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