A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II (58 page)

My thanks go out to the following people for their help with
A Higher Call
.

To Charlie Brown, for opening the door to this epic story when I came knocking. Your lifelong devotion to your crew made this book possible. To Franz Stigler and Helga Stigler, for welcoming this outsider into your lives and sharing stories that were fascinating for me—and painful for you. May the world grant you the peace you deserve.

To my editor at Berkley Publishing Group, Natalee Rosenstein, who had faith in the transcendental power of this story. Thanks for rolling the dice with this first-time author. To my publisher at Penguin Group, Leslie Gelbman, and her team, thanks for giving the green light to share this book with the world.

To Charlie’s daughters, Carol Dawn Warner and Kimberly Arnspiger. To the sons of Sam Blackford—Paul Blackford and Chris Blackford—and to Richard Sadok (the son of Al Sadok) and Franz Stigler’s godson Jim Berladyn. The memories, photos, and diaries you shared enriched this book immensely.

To Larry Alexander, a seasoned author and newspaperman who
helped me shoulder the mountain of research and writing to complete this book. From digging up B-17 flight manuals to finding P-40 pilots to interview, your guidance was a gift.

To David Harper of Eagle’s Nest Historical Tours, my guide and liaison to all things German. From driving me to WWII sites in Germany to placing ads in German newspapers seeking the descendants of Willi Kientsch, your help was instrumental. You are one of Europe’s top tour guides for good reason.

To Byron Schlag, the jolly old B-17 tail gunner veteran who took me to England to tour 8th Air Force bomber bases with him during a reunion of his bomb group. Thanks for being my 8th Air Force mentor for so many years.

To Professor Colin Heaton, America’s expert on WWII German pilots. The author of
The German Aces Speak
, Colin was stationed in Germany during the 1980s as a soldier in the U.S. Army. During that time he interviewed countless German pilots, treasured interviews he shared with me so I could know his friends—the aces.

To Robert Forsyth, a British historian and the world’s preeminent JV-44 expert. When Franz Stigler gifted a book about JV-44 to Charlie Brown, he chose Robert’s book,
JV-44
. In addition to freely answering my questions, Robert opened his photo library and shared many of the rare JV-44 pictures that appear in this book.

To Dr. Kurt Braatz, who wrote Gunther Luetzow’s biography
Gott oder ein Flugzeug
(
God or an Airplane
) and translated key components of his book to help me understand Luetzow, a largely forgotten man whose legacy Braatz works to keep alive.

To Master Sergeant Craig Mackey and the staff at the Air Force Historical Research Agency, thanks for providing the most professional research and archives service I’ve ever encountered.

To my focus group of critical readers, Eric Carlson, Joe Gohrs, Matt Hoover, Pete Semanoff, and Justin Taylan, your feedback made this a better book.

To the lovely Austrian and German girls who helped me from afar,
Julia Loisl (for her translations), Jaqueline Schiele (who helped me search for Willi Kientsch’s family), and Carolin Huber (who helped me locate August Stigler’s grave site). Special thanks to Carolin for lending her critical eye and critiquing the manuscript from a German perspective. The word “brilliant” does not adequately describe the job you did.

To America’s preeminent aviation artist, John D. Shaw, whose painting adorns this book, thanks for using your masterful brushstrokes to spread this story.

To the composers whose scores were the rousing soundtrack to my typing, to Michael Giacchino for your
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
, to Hans Zimmer for your song, “Woad to Ruin,” and to my talented friends in the band the Airborne Toxic Event.

To the historians, experts, and friends who shared their insight: Robin Barletta, Bianca Del Bello, Christer Bergström, Steve Blake, Andy Boyd, Cheryl Cerbone, Dr. Thomas Childers, Mark Copeland, Ferdinando D’Amico, Patricia Everson, Wayne Freedman, Greg Johnson, Matt Hall, Mike Hart, Roger Hesse, Kelly Kalcheim, Julee MacDonald, Carl Molesworth, Carina Notzke, Gordon Page, William S. Phillips, Andrew Rammon, Christopher Shores, Vince Tassone, Odette Trellinger, John Weal, Rick Willett, and Bob Windholz.

To my high school English teacher, Mr. G. David Friant, who edited our magazine for a decade without pay or reward, just to help a bunch of kids develop their talents—anything I’ve learned about writing I owe to you.

To the World War II veterans whose advice and corrections made for a better book—W.A.S.P. pilot Betty Blake, B-24 pilot Joe Jackson, P-40 pilot Jack Pinkham, B-24 bombardier William Reichle, B-17 radio operator George Roberts, Bf-109 pilot Kurt Schulze, and flak gunner Otto Wittenburg. Special thanks to this book’s chief historical advisors, B-17 pilot John Noack and Me-262 pilot Jorg Czypionka, who worked with me from start to finish. John flew a B-17 in the bloody Second Schweinfurt raid and was later shot down into the
North Sea and taken prisoner, whereas Jorg’s career paralleled that of Franz Stigler. Jorg was a flight instructor-turned-109 pilot who later flew 262s in combat—only with a catch—he flew jets at night, as a night fighter. Not only did Jorg know Franz Stigler after the war, but he, too, had a close encounter of his own with a British Spitfire pilot (a story too amazing for this short space, so I’ve posted it, along with other bonus content on my website: www.ValorStudios.com).

To my parents, Robert and Karen Makos, and my sisters, Erica Makos and Elizabeth Makos. I’ve always looked to you first, for a critical read or an opinion, for encouragement or a reality check. I can work harder and sleep better knowing that you’re in my life and always pushing me forward.

To my brother, Bryan Makos, my right-hand man and toughest critic, you’ve worked with nearly everyone credited above, freeing me up to write. Yours was no easy task—to gather historical facts, stories, and human resources spanning three continents, eight countries, and both sides of a world war. Your name is not on the cover. Your work may go unnoticed. But few people, if anyone, could have done the job you did.

Lastly, to my grandfathers, WWII veterans Mike Makos and Francis Panfili, when anyone asks how I became interested in history, it’s due to you—the air shows you took Bryan and me to as kids, the plastic models of WWII planes that you built for us, your old photo albums, your patches and pins and reminders of a time gone by—who would have thought it would lead to this?

To view rare WWII aircraft such as those described in this book, the author encourages you to explore these fine aviation museums and organizations. An asterisk* indicates where a B-17 or Bf-109 is available for public viewing.

CHAPTER 3

1
. Paul Berben,
Dachau: 1933-45,
81–82.

2
. Colin D. Heaton and Jeffrey Ethell interview with Franz Stigler.

CHAPTER 4

1
. Christopher Shores and Hans Ring,
Luftkampf zwischen Sand und Sonne
, 194.

CHAPTER 5

1
. Franz Kurowski,
German Fighter Ace Hans-Joachim Marseille
, 142.

2
. Robert Tate,
Hans-Joachim Marseille: An Illustrated Tribute to the Luftwaffe’s “Star of Africa,”
83.

CHAPTER 6

1
. Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis,
The German Aces Speak
, 155.

CHAPTER 8

1
. Colin D. Heaton Interview with Gustav Roedel.

2
. Jeffrey Ethel,
P-38 Lightning,
21–23.

CHAPTER 9

1
. Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis,
The German Aces Speak
, 127.

2
. Heinz Knocke,
I Flew for the Fuhrer,
97.

3
. Author interview with Dr. Kurt Braatz.

4
. Ibid.

5
.
Johannes Steinhoff,
Messerschmitts Over Sicily,
11.

6
. Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis,
The German Aces Speak
, 29–31.

7
. Elliott Arnold and Richard Thruelsen,
Mediterranean Sweep: Air Stories from El Alamein to Rome
, 103.

8
. 79th Fighter Group press release, June 1943.

9
. Franz Stigler, “Palm Sunday Massacre,”
Luftwaffe: Deadly Aces, Deadly Warplanes
1, no. 1 (1989): 16–21, 96. In the absence of his logbook, Franz’s water landing was wrongly attributed in this article to April 18 when it actually occurred on June 10. Franz refers to a corporal who was shot down with him and later returned to Sicily by raft. This was correct. The man was Corporal Karl Burger who was shot down on June 10.

10
. The dialogue between Steinhoff and the Gestapo that follows is according to Johannes Steinhoff, as told to Colin D. Heaton.

11
. Beth Griech-Polelle,
Bishop von Galen: German Catholicism and National Socialism
, 80.

12
. Colin D. Heaton and Jeffrey Ethell interview with Franz Stigler.

13
. Johannes Steinhoff,
Messerschmitts Over Sicily
, 181.

14
. Albert Speer,
Inside the Third Reich.

CHAPTER 10

1
. Colin D. Heaton and Jeffrey Ethell interview with Franz Stigler.

CHAPTER 13

1
. Harry Crosby,
A Wing and a Prayer
, 39.

2
. Elmer Bendiner,
Fall of the Fortresses
, 91.

3
. Air Force Historical Research Agency interview with General Maurice Preston.

4
. Philip Kaplan and Rex Alan Smith,
One Last Look
, 197.

5
. Elmer Bendiner,
Fall of the Fortresses
, 13.

6
. Ibid., 73.

CHAPTER 15

1
. Frank Geary, “Courage, Faith, Culminate in Brotherhood of Friendship Among Former Enemies in Skies Over WWII Europe,”
Jax Air News
(1998): 14–15.

2
. Ibid., 14–15.

CHAPTER 16

1
. Rudolph Herzog,
Dead Funny: Humor in Hitler’s Germany
, 167–168.

CHAPTER 17

1
. Elmer Bendiner,
Fall of the Fortresses
, 206.

2
. Ibid., 114–115.

CHAPTER 18

1
. Joseph Mizrahi,
Knights of the Black Cross
, 63.