"An Act of Chivalry in World War II"

[Smaland]

In this artist's rendering, the B-17 in the foreground is Ye Olde Pub, piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles Brown. In the background is a Bf109 piloted by Oberleutnant Franz Stigler.


Franz Stigler (left) and Charles Brown (right)

The B-17 was like a sieve. There was blood everywhere. I could see the crew trying to help their wounded. The tail gunner was slumped over his gun, his blood streaming down its barrel. Through the gaping hole in the fuselage, I could see crewmen working frantically to save a comrade whose leg was blown off. I thought to myself, 'How can I shoot something like that? It would be like shooting a man in a parachute.'
_____

Franz Stigler

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[MST3K]

Very Good!!

[Smaland]

1) During the Battle of Crete (20 May - 1 June 1941), German and British doctors established a joint field hospital for treatment of the wounded.

2) After the Ploesti Raid of 1 August 1943, the Germans treated wounded and dying American bomber crewmen in their own medical facilities.

(German commander Major General Alfred) Gerstenberg ordered that the American dead be buried with full military honors. There were several mass funerals of Americans and Germans together, with trumpets, parade standards and honor guards firing the final volleys.

Dugan, James and Carroll Stewart. Ploesti. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, 2002 (p. 234).

I am spelling the name of the city as "Ploesti", because that it is how it was spelled at the time of the raid.