"A Higher Call" book - Amazing WWII story about a US and German pilot

[SP33Demon]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry/index.html

Apparently there is a bestseller book out since December called A Higher Call, but just an amazing story about a German pilot sparing a US pilot and them meeting 40 years later and becoming fishing buddies. I can't even imagine how these guys felt after their reunion.

 

[dighn]

mercy in war can get you or your allies killed, but it's still a touching story. war just makes no sense.

 

[SunnyD]

Is this the story about Snoopy and the Red Barron?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Great story. Thanks OP.

 

[styrafoam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8EkmyoG83Q

Video of the pilots recount, link in the article seems to be broken.

 

[CPA]

Been meaning to get this book.

 

[Sonikku]

The German should have shot himself for being an evil Nazi.

 

[Lonyo]

Repost.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=140875

 

[JEDI]

mercy in war can get you or your allies killed,

yes.. did the German pilot not see "Band of Brothers"?

Freed captive comes back and stabs him in the heart

 

[Baked]

yes.. did the German pilot not see "Saving Private Ryan"?

Freed captive comes back and stabs him in the heart

FTFY

 

[Printer Bandit]

 

[SP33Demon]

Repost.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=140875

And now it's not.

 

[OlafSicky]

I don't believe this story one bit. Germans were fanatical and the pilot would have been shot for treason. Perhaps he didn't have any more bullets, met the other guy and decided to say that he spared him. Either way I smell bs.

 

[AlienCraft]

Interesting. The topic of PTSD and inhumane acts during war was broached recently during a Terr.Radio program I heard recently. Bushido allows one to kill one's adversary humanely if they showed valor, not quite the same as the Western Version of "Warrior Code".

 

[AlienCraft]

I don't believe this story one bit.ALL Germans were fanatical and the pilot would have been shot for treason. Perhaps he didn't have any more bullets, met the other guy and decided to say that he spared him. Either way I smell bs.

FIXEDtfy.

 

[unokitty]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry/index.html

Apparently there is a bestseller book out since December called A Higher Call, but just an amazing story about a German pilot sparing a US pilot and them meeting 40 years later and becoming fishing buddies. I can't even imagine how these guys felt after their reunion.

"I agreed with Indiana Jones when he said, "Nazis, I hate these guys." To me, the Germans were all Nazis. They were jackboot zombies who gathered in flocks to salute Hitler at Nuremberg. They ran concentration camps. They worshipped Hitler. Worse, they tried to kill my friends, the eighty year old WWII veterans who had become my heroes.

But something began to puzzle me. I noticed that the aging American WWII pilots talked about their counterparts--the old German WWII pilots--with a strange kind of respect. They spoke of the German pilots' bravery, decency, and this code of honor that they supposedly shared..."

-- Adam Makos, A Higher Call


My father who was disabled while piloting his B-17 over Germany always spoke of the Luftwaffe with respect. I can also remember him speaking of the code of honor that the 8th Air Force shared with the Luftwaffe.

I've got "A Higher Call" on my desk now. I'm looking forward to having the time to read it.

Uno

 

[zinfamous]

yes.. did the German pilot not see "Band of Brothers"?

Freed captive comes back and stabs him in the heart

/facepalm


Saving Private Ryan (fiction)

....and that's not even the same German (the heart-stabbing scene) and that isn't the same American...and that isn't even close to the same scene.

 

[dud]

ATOT is turning into a news outlet.

I wonder how many other news outlets had this posted today?

If you come to ATOT for your news "fix" ... you're @#$%!

 

[Sluggo]

Wasn't Grumpy Old Men the movie version of this?

 

[Farang]

I don't believe this story one bit. Germans were fanatical and the pilot would have been shot for treason. Perhaps he didn't have any more bullets, met the other guy and decided to say that he spared him. Either way I smell bs.

My grandparents both were WWII pilots, one for USA and one for Germany. The Austrian one, like a lot of people his age he was forced into service (he actually hid out in the woods for a long time to avoid conscription)

 

[clamum]

I don't believe this story one bit. Germans were fanatical and the pilot would have been shot for treason. Perhaps he didn't have any more bullets, met the other guy and decided to say that he spared him. Either way I smell bs.

lol. Did the Jews do 9/11 and Obama do Sandy Hook too? :awe:

 

[disappoint]

Is this the story about Snoopy and the Red Barron?

No, it's about Charlie Brown.

 

[kage69]

I don't believe this story one bit. Germans were fanatical and the pilot would have been shot for treason. Perhaps he didn't have any more bullets, met the other guy and decided to say that he spared him. Either way I smell bs.

Believe it or not there was more to the German war machine than blood thirsty crazy ass SS. I don't think you appreciate the history of chivalry on the European battlefield either. Germans, while known for the racism of the period, did consider English and Americans to be more like equals. In the beginning of WWI both sides were giving the others dead pilots burials with full honors. Serving in the air was seen as gallant and was seen as an elite occupation.

I wasn't familiar with this story, but I did see a show about a German ace, Egon something, who ripped a Jug to pieces, disabling it's steering, then flew alongside to gesture to the pilot to bail. The American pilot couldn't really, also couldn't bail out as the canopy was damaged. The German pilot thought the American as being defiant as resigned himself to chew up his opponent some more and end the encounter. IIRC he expended the rest of his ammo at close range only to have the Jug maintain it heading and speed. He waved goodbye and left shaking his head. The show was about the sturdiness of the Jugs design I think, but the pilot involved was taking turns narrating.

 

[waggy]

I don't believe this story one bit. Germans were fanatical and the pilot would have been shot for treason. Perhaps he didn't have any more bullets, met the other guy and decided to say that he spared him. Either way I smell bs.

I suppose you think the Christmas truce during WWII was fake too?


you are a idiot. not all that fought for Germany were bloodthirsty. in fact very few were. the atrocity's that Germany did were mainly the SS and that was small number the German military.

 

[Yreka]

Hah!

I just bought this book for my Father for his B-day ( March 25th).

I'm also working on finding the markings for the B-17 (Ye-olde-Pub) and the BF-109 (Jagdgeschwader 27) in 1/48th scale to finish models inspired by the tale. If I get the planes done in time, maybe they will make a good follow up fathers day gift.

Great story.