You’re a spared man, Charlie Brown

In 1943, over Allied bomb ravaged Germany, US pilot Charlie Brown‘s B-17 was badly damaged and straying further from friendly territory. Luftwaffe ace fighter pilot Franz Stigler pursued the bomber intending to shoot it down, but refrained when he saw the extent of the damage and directed Brown and his crew out of harm’s way. The two pilots were reunited 46 years later.

Herr Stigler passed away last month.