"Ye Old Pub" - An amazing story

Venatore · 05-27-08, 05:28 AM

"Ye Olde Pub"

An amazing story

Charlie Brown was an American B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England. His aircraft was named "Ye Olde Pub." After a bombing raid over Germany, Brown's badly shot-up B-17 was in dire trouble, having been hit by flak and fighters. Because of severe damage and with all compasses destroyed they were flying in the wrong direction, going deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.

After the crippled Ye Olde Pub flew over an enemy airfield, a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down Brown's B-17. When he got near the B-17, Steigler could not believe his eyes. In his own words, he "had never seen a plane in such a bad state still flying." The tail and rear section was severely damaged. The tail gunner was severely wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere.

Franz flew alongside of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, who knew exactly what was coming. Now facing impossible odds, Brown ignored the German plane sent to kill him and struggled to control his crippled and blood-stained aircraft.

Amazed at Brown's determination to get his crew safely home despite what appeared to be his imminent certain death, Steigler decided he could not shoot down the helpless surviving American crewmen.

Aware Brown had no idea where they were going, Franz Steigler waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees, to make a U-turn and follow him. The German pilot escorted and guided the stricken American B-17 to and out over the North Sea towards England.

Franz Steigler then saluted Charlie Brown. He turned away, back toward Europe.

When Steigler landed he told his commanding officer that he had shot down Ye Olde Pub over the North Sea. He never told the truth to anybody. Of course, Charlie Brown and the surviving members of his crew told all at their post-flight debriefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Steigler was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions.

They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now--all because Franz Steigler never fired his guns that day.

Research shows that Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz Steigler had moved to Vancouver, B.C., after the war. When they finally met, they discovered they had lived less than 200 miles apart for the past 50 years.

Stealth Hunter · 05-27-08, 05:32 AM

Damn... that is an amazing story.

Nothing further to say. Just... day-um...

Raptor1 · 05-27-08, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

Damn... that is an amazing story.

Nothing further to say. Just... day-um...

I agree

HunterICX · 05-27-08, 06:00 AM

Amazing,

nice find, venatore

HunterICX

Yorktown_Class · 05-27-08, 06:11 AM

Wow,I love stories like this,thank you for sharing

TarJak · 05-27-08, 06:13 AM

Amazing to see humanity in the midst of the hell of war. Nice story.

Dowly · 05-27-08, 06:25 AM

Read about this story awhile back from the book 'Luftwaffe Fighter Aces', no matter what ppl say, there was chivalry in the air during the WWII.

There's also one from Adolf Galland during BoB (IIRC) where he encountered an RAF training plane, Tiger Moth, on his sortie. He flew in formation with it a few min, saluted and turned away.

Red Heat · 05-27-08, 07:47 AM

A exemple to all...

Schroeder · 05-27-08, 07:49 AM

There is another story like this where the German ace Egon Mayer escorted a shot up P47 flown by Robert S. Johnson back to the channel after being unable to shoot it down (he was out of cannon ammo IIRC).
Johnson became an ace himself later.

"Mytsicpuma" made a very nice Il2 movie about it:

Not my time to die
354MB

Definitely worth watching.

rifleman13 · 05-27-08, 09:07 AM

Respect and honor, that's what's all about!

Sailor Steve · 05-27-08, 10:57 PM

Remarkable.

Thanks for sharing that, Venatore.

Jimbuna · 05-28-08, 11:41 AM

Nice one.....

05-27-08, 05:28 AM	#1
Venatore Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia:- Sydney Posts: 2,049 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	"Ye Olde Pub" - An amazing story "Ye Olde Pub" An amazing story Charlie Brown was an American B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England. His aircraft was named "Ye Olde Pub." After a bombing raid over Germany, Brown's badly shot-up B-17 was in dire trouble, having been hit by flak and fighters. Because of severe damage and with all compasses destroyed they were flying in the wrong direction, going deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton. After the crippled Ye Olde Pub flew over an enemy airfield, a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down Brown's B-17. When he got near the B-17, Steigler could not believe his eyes. In his own words, he "had never seen a plane in such a bad state still flying." The tail and rear section was severely damaged. The tail gunner was severely wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere. Franz flew alongside of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, who knew exactly what was coming. Now facing impossible odds, Brown ignored the German plane sent to kill him and struggled to control his crippled and blood-stained aircraft. Amazed at Brown's determination to get his crew safely home despite what appeared to be his imminent certain death, Steigler decided he could not shoot down the helpless surviving American crewmen. Aware Brown had no idea where they were going, Franz Steigler waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees, to make a U-turn and follow him. The German pilot escorted and guided the stricken American B-17 to and out over the North Sea towards England. Franz Steigler then saluted Charlie Brown. He turned away, back toward Europe. When Steigler landed he told his commanding officer that he had shot down Ye Olde Pub over the North Sea. He never told the truth to anybody. Of course, Charlie Brown and the surviving members of his crew told all at their post-flight debriefing, but were ordered never to talk about it. More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Steigler was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions. They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now--all because Franz Steigler never fired his guns that day. Research shows that Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz Steigler had moved to Vancouver, B.C., after the war. When they finally met, they discovered they had lived less than 200 miles apart for the past 50 years. Last edited by Venatore; 05-27-08 at 06:13 AM.

05-27-08, 06:00 AM	#4
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Amazing, nice find, venatore HunterICX __________________

05-27-08, 06:11 AM	#5
Yorktown_Class Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 263 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 0	Wow,I love stories like this,thank you for sharing __________________ David

05-27-08, 07:47 AM	#8
Red Heat Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portugal Posts: 1,093 Downloads: 267 Uploads: 0	A exemple to all... __________________ "There is three kinds of man: the living, the death, and those who are at Sea." Plato

05-27-08, 10:57 PM	#11
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Remarkable. Thanks for sharing that, Venatore. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-27-08, 05:32 AM	#2
Stealth Hunter Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Y'ha-Nthlei Posts: 4,262 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Damn... that is an amazing story. Nothing further to say. Just... day-um...

05-27-08, 06:13 AM	#6
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Amazing to see humanity in the midst of the hell of war. Nice story.

05-27-08, 06:25 AM	#7
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Read about this story awhile back from the book 'Luftwaffe Fighter Aces', no matter what ppl say, there was chivalry in the air during the WWII. There's also one from Adolf Galland during BoB (IIRC) where he encountered an RAF training plane, Tiger Moth, on his sortie. He flew in formation with it a few min, saluted and turned away.

05-27-08, 07:49 AM	#9
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	There is another story like this where the German ace Egon Mayer escorted a shot up P47 flown by Robert S. Johnson back to the channel after being unable to shoot it down (he was out of cannon ammo IIRC). Johnson became an ace himself later. "Mytsicpuma" made a very nice Il2 movie about it: Not my time to die 354MB Definitely worth watching.

05-27-08, 09:07 AM	#10
rifleman13 Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2008 Location: Depth-charged to Kingdom Come Posts: 927 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Respect and honor, that's what's all about!

05-28-08, 11:41 AM	#12
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Nice one..... __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!