1. Oberleutnant Ludwig Franz Stigler was a German fighter pilot and fighter ace in World War II.
19 Facts About Franz Stigler
1. 2.
Franz Stigler is best known for his role in a December 1943 incident in which he spared the crew of a severely damaged B-17 bomber.
3.
Franz Stigler escorted the plane to safety over enemy lines.
4.
Franz Stigler was born on 21 August 1915 in Amberg, Bavaria.
5.
Franz Stigler began flying gliders when he was 12, and in 1933, he piloted a biplane.
6.
Franz Stigler flew for Deutsche Luft Hansa before joining the Luftwaffe in 1940.
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Franz Stigler himself flew 487 combat missions, downing 28 planes while himself being shot down 17 times.
8.
Franz Stigler's brother, August, who was a pilot, was killed in the crash of a Junkers Ju 88 in August 1940.
9.
In North Africa, Franz Stigler flew in the Schwarm made up of Oberleutnant Ferdinand Vogl, the commander of 4.
10.
On 13 January 1944, Franz Stigler was appointed Staffelkapitan of 12.
11.
Franz Stigler succeeded Oberleutnant Werner Kuffner who had been killed in action the day before.
12.
On 20 December 1943, Franz Stigler met a B-17 bomber nicknamed Ye Olde Pub and its American pilot Charles "Charlie" Brown for the first time.
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Franz Stigler had shot down two B-17s earlier that day and he soon caught up to a wounded B-17 flown by Brown.
14.
Franz Stigler motioned to Brown to land his airplane in neutral Sweden because of the extensive damage.
15.
Franz Stigler escorted the B-17 and its crew to the North Sea coast, protecting it from German anti-aircraft gunners.
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Once they were over water, Franz Stigler saluted Brown, then left to return to base.
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Franz Stigler never spoke of the incident as he could have been court-martialed and executed.
18.
Franz Stigler moved to Canada in 1953 and became a successful businessman.
19.
Between 1990 and 2008, Brown and Franz Stigler became close friends and remained so until their deaths within several months of each other in 2008.