When a Bf-109 spared a stricken B-17 

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For those who don't know Franz Stigler died on the 22nd March 2008, and Charlie Brown a few months later on the 25th November 2008. RIP.

“Real courage isn’t knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one” -Gandalf i think

Stigler had wanted a Knight's Cross and was one plane away from getting it when he encountered Charlie's bomber. Stigler never did get his medal. But by sparing this bomber he got something more precious. Gratitude and ever-lasting respect.

Meanwhile in war thunder “Is he dead? Nah” “Now he’s dead” “But just to make su- *crashes into plane*”

Makes me think of British and German soldiers singing Christmas carols from their opposing trenches in the winter of 1914.

I can just imagine when they were arguing “I shoulda shot you down when I had the chance”

This being the most popular video on this channel shows that people really like stories of kindness

I am German, 60 years old and I have to say that there is very very little that I am proud of in the Wehrmacht. Colonel Graf Stauffenberg and Franz Stigler, for example, are soldiers I am very, very proud of. Everyone who calls Stigler a traitor didn't understand anything at all. He had already shot down two bombers that day, but this third bomber was no longer a plane but a wreck that was still flying. The team was no longer able to defend themselves and almost everyone was injured. Killing it wouldn't have been a victory, it would have been murder. A look with the pilot showed his fear and he thought of the last seconds in the life of his brother who was also shot down. His behavior shows honor, critics didn't understand at all what it means to have honor. As a country, Germany had already lost all its honor back then, we just ran amok. But the individual could, as here, show what it is is still to have honor. A great role model for my two sons

I was fortunate enough to have met Stigler before he passed away. An honourable man in difficult times.

dear Hollywood instead of making stupid superhero films make this Heroes story as a film

R.I.P. für beide. Mögen Sie beide zusammen im Himmel fliegen und über uns wachen, dass es nie wieder einen schrecklichen Krieg gibt.

At the Portland Regional Office for the Veterans Benefits Administration, we have a poster depicting this signed by both Brown and Stigler. Even more astonishing, their uniform flight wings are also included in the framed painting commemorating this amazing story.

Imagine if they had an argument "I could have shot you down"-" You didn't have the balls"

Imagine explaining to someone how you met your best friend that he spared killing you in a war and your teammates.

Goes to show that even the horrors of war do not destroy the humanity in some people. A salute to the chivalry of this pilot and may God bless him.

Yarnhub has come so far, from 2D animations to 3D high quality ones, very nice

Not gonna lie, felt pretty teary when the German pilot saluted after escorting the damaged plane. 😔

Salute the German pilot for sparing the lives of the wounded US airmen. He was a man with honor. His commander had taught him well not to shoot at his helpless enemy in a parachute.

Looking back, Yarnhub has vastly improved throughout the years on their animation

You guys did a great collaboration with Sabaton "No Bullets Fly" depicting this true story. The book about this event "A Higher Calling" is also a epic read

And this is what the internet is meant for...

Stigler was one kill away from his Knight's cross.... imagine him flying up, seeing that bomber and think to himself "No... that's not worth it..."

Respect for both pilots. Only the real BRAVE people let their enemy go free when enemy is so weak to fight back.

Who found this guy randomly on your recommended and now hes your everyday thing

[Stigler] had the words of his mentor Lt. Gustav Roedel ringing in his ears. The Mail reported them as, “You shoot at a machine, not a man. You score ‘victories’, not ‘kills’… honor is everything… You fight by rules to keep your humanity. So you never shoot your enemy if he is floating down on a parachute. If I ever see you doing that, I will shoot you down myself.” If you want to hear another interesting story, John Rabe

I think they were just meant to be friends their whole life.

This video is beautiful and proof that a soldier in any war is just someone doing their job and protecting their home and way of life. I'm Soo very glad they got to reconnect and became friends.

im proud of how far this channel has gone

A true warrior recognizes when the enemy is defenseless and acts with humanity. That is Honor in the skyes, land and water...

"Are you crying, my Fuhrer?" "...Nein."

This is the beggining of Yarnhub's legendary legacy...

Man, both world wars have an Act of Kindness in Humanity like the Christmas Truce.

The best of humanity on both sides.

I was fortunate to meet both Charlie and Franz at an airshow in 2005. RIP Charlie and Franz...

Alternate title: "How to make Friends in ww2"

Ok Stigler is an absolute legend, anyone that spares a badly damaged/ injured enemy is the most respectable person ever

alright boys who’s cutting those damn onions again

Crazy to see how far Yarnhub’s animation went.

Events like this and the Christmas truce of 1914 during WW1, are the only times when the only casualty is war itself, showing it actually has no purpose at all, a message strong as the song "Imagine" by John Lennon, and still as touching

B17:*badly damaged F. Stilger: understandable have a great day

Those two men are flying together in heaven now :)

Wow. So wholesome. Who doesn’t love these wonderful war stories?

Just imagine having to explain the generals how you survived SO YOURE TELLING ME A BF 109 SPARED YOU !!!

Stigler: so Brown..... remember the time I almost shot you down? Brown: yeah, good times

This is wholesome on another level. I'm not crying, you are...

Hard to believe I've already been following for 2 years. Time well spent

Just stay human. Even in the times of war.

“True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

Incredible display of honor and humanity. This story brings a tear to my eye.

Bro i just came back to watching your Old Video.... And still can't believe how your video now❤❤ - love drom Indonesia❤

Interesting how the best of most war stories are about one side being kind to the enemy and sparing life. Beautiful if you ask me.

My grandad was responsible for 35 downed German planes in ww2. Still to this day holds the record as worst mechanic the Luftwaffe ever had

That Day in that Skies something happened that can be described with a simple Name: Honor my friends. Has a Profound Significance, is Priceless and No one can ever Take it away. That the Lord Forgive your Sins and that R.I.P. Thanks.

The video that started ny involvement in the story of Ye Olde Pub....3 years later and I had the honour of delivering a pair of commissioned models in 1/48 scale to the karting club that is built on part of the former airfield at Kimbolton. A very emotional day for all involved, especially for the guy who commissioned the builds and also the son of the late Ball Turret Gunner of Ye Olde Pub that day in 1943. The models are now part of a display which shows not just how much damage a B-17 could take, but how the chivalrous actions of Franz Stigler showed how an enemy could become a guardian

The salute gave me the strongest goosebumps I've ever felt

This story should be illegal. It's too wholesome.

You will not always be the smartest person in the room, and you will not always be the strongest, funniest, or most talented, but you can always be brave, and can always be kind, and these are the things you should be every minute of every day for the rest of your life. Because those other things, they're great things, but these things are better.

I remember subscribing when this dropped out. One of the first 600, I think. It really is great to see how much better you guys got!

"No bullets fly, spared by his mercy. Escorted out. Out of harms way." And one thing. Stigler wouldve gotten the iron cross if he shot the B17 down. He never did.

It's enough to make a grown man cry.

I wonder how many of these kinds of wholesome stories from those horrible times didnt make it to the present

The stories of humanity in war are plenty, they are within the minds of our veterans and will probably never be shared. Such sacrifice needs no audience and no introduction, it is enough by itself. They are cherished memories, told only to oneself as a happiness or gratitude they could never articulate with words. Blessed are those that, in the darkest of waning hours found light. Blessed are those who are ever aware to the opportunity to show mercy in merciless times.

"You are bad guy, But that does not mean you are bad guy"

Charlie Brown: * literally about to get shot down * Franz Stigler: *im about to save this man’s whole career*

So far you have come yarnhub.

That's amazing and goes to show such compassion can and does exist amongst us

Everyone liked that, because that's what heroes do. I'm crying.

Respect. Their friendship at the end is extraordinary.

seeing this video again really shows how good your animation has become.

Honerability, morality, and acts of mercy are diamonds amongst coal lumps in war. And those who show all three even in a terrible time and place are truly remarkable human beings

Stigler was a warrior, but not a murderer. This story has always amazed me. Honor never gets old. I wish we saw more of it these days.

The worst thing you can do during war is losing your humanity, in my opinion

What an honorable man,this German pilot is; Amazing story that brought tears to my eyes!😌

As a man, this video definitely was justified in the tear that rolled down my cheek

I can't believe this is what yarn hub used to look like

Sometimes people forget that just because a soldier fights for his country, it doesn't mean he fights for the ideology.

No bullets fly, spared by his mercy Escorted out, out of harms way. He risked his life two times that day To save an unknown enemy Escort to safety, out of the killzone A short salute, then departed. Fly, fighting fair, it’s the code of the air.

The first time I'd heard this amazing tale I was 10 or 11 years old. My Great-Uncle Albert was a navigator for one of the other B-17's that had run to Bremen and back that day. Even now, 30 years later, it is a great example of honor, morality and bravery.

You know the story is wild when the pilot passing out from injuries, waking up during a dive and managing to bring the plane back up isn't the craziest part of the story

As awful as war is, it makes these small moments of humanity that much more extraordinary.

"If I see you shot down an enemy in parachute, I'll shoot you myself" -Gustav Rödel, commanding officer of Stigler, JG-27 "We are knights, not butchers" -Red Baron P/S thank you for reminding me of Rödel

Man this was the first video I watched from you, look at this, then look at the quality of videos now, that rate of improvement is so underrated, keep up the good work, your recent sneak peak of the german tanks look almost real

I just came back to this after seeing your latest animation. Im just amazed at the progress

I dont know why, but this video brought tears to my eyes.

There's a reason B-17s are called 'Flying Fortress'

This truly shows that humanity truly has no bounds

A Higher Call is a recent book written about this story. A really good read.

It just goes to show it's politicians who want wars not the men under them. Respect to Franz Stigler.

Awesome to see a warm heart during savage times..

Amazing experience. Thank you so much for posting this. I don't understand the amount of thumbs down, there are some truly weird people out there in the world. These were very brave men who risked their lives for our freedom today 👍🇬🇧

This is so wholesome. Deserves a spot in a "videos that restore my faith in humanity" playlist

No bullets fly, spared by his mercy Escorted out, out of harm's way

What a great story! Thank you so much for sharing it by making this video!

That is honor. It took courage and compassion to do what Stigler did. It would have been easy for him to take the B-17 as his 28 "kill" but instead he lived by the code instilled in him by his training officer. I am glad they found each other and spent time together as friends.

"Professionals have standards"

As a wise man once said "Fly, fighting fair, it's the code of the air"

What a noble character. A thing we rarely or even see in our present day and age.

That's "feel good" story about an honorable man, the German Ace. My father-in law, God bless him, was a B-17 squadron commander, leading 18 missions over Germany, including the Schweinfurt-Regensburg misssion, and awarded a medal by General Curtis Emerson LeMay. Those were men of courage, from both sides. Thanks for sharing that story.

Must be dusty in here, my damn eyes won't stop watering.