A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II (64 page)

His final mission completed, Charlie Brown enjoys a bottle of whiskey and a cigar at Kimbolton on April 11, 1944

Franz and his pilots at Graz after their victory over the B-24s. Mellman and Sonntag are believed to be the pilots standing on the far left.

Eva poses in Franz’s 109.

In bombed-out Potsdam, Franz met the Greisse family.

At Dresden, October 1944, Franz (center) endures the antics of his adjutant, Sgt. Alfred Stueckler. The faces of Franz’s young pilots at left, reflect the gravity of the times.

“FLORIDA,” on Lake Tegernsee.

Munich airport in ruins.

Col. Hannes Trautloft.

Eric Hohagen as a first lieutenant.

Walter “the Count” Krupinski as a first lieutenant.

To conserve jet fuel, kettenkrads were often used as “runway tugs” to pull 262s

At JV-44’s alert shack, Steinhoff takes a call from the orphanage. Behind him (L to R) are the Count, Hohagen, and Luetzow

At the orphanage, Luetzow (center) confers with Col. Gunther von Maltzahn (left) and Trautloft (right).

Maj. Gerd Barkhorn.