The Stigler-Brown Incident Animation

"If I ever see or hear of you shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself."

Those were the words that came to Franz Stigler's mind when he saw the badly damaged B-17 that was somehow still flying. To him, that plane limping back to England with its wounded crew was the same as a parachute. This story was kept classified for the remainder of the war and only came to light when the two pilots managed to find each other again in 1990.

Sound design by James Findlater

Music Used:
Once and for All - Adrian Disch
Glory Ride - Duomo
Flight - Hannah Parrott

Special Thanks to my Patrons:
John Barlow
Marcus House
Grace
Terran Space Academy

JJJreact

[derekheuring]

I’m proud to count Franz Stigler, May he Rest In Peace as a friend. Franz was a member of the same Royal Canadian Air Force Association unit as I was in Abbotsford, B.C. Canada and spent many a delightful hour having a drink and listening to his stories, until ‘Momma’ told him it was time to go home. Franz was a gentle spirit and never gloated about his many kills and was reluctant to speak of them. There is a special place in Heaven for such men.

[bhight]

Franz Stiggler had just lost his brother's shortly before this incident. His commander told the unit that if he found them shooting at enemies decending on parachutes that he would kill them himself, Stiggler later described the pub as a parachute, completely defenseless, he passed up the Knights cross that day and never got it, but he always said, that he got something better, to him, Charlie Brown was as much his brother. They later became best friends and Charlie invited Franz to a reunion of his unit, while there Franz felt uncomfortable for obvious reasons, and then Charlie opened up and said, these families are here today thanks to you, for escorting us to safety.

[johnkearney]

I learned about this encounter fairly recently. The German pilot thought it would have been dishonorable to shoot down a crippled plane even if it was the enemy. It was remarkable that this incident was largely kept secret until after the war. The two pilots met again many years later and became friends. Truly inspiring story.

[haaiehapbeanz]

"The murder of a man is still murder, even in wartime."
"But remember, our tasks is to bring down aeroplanes, not men. So stop firing when your opponent's falling. Gentlemen, we are sportsmen, not butchers."

-Manfred von Richtofen, A.K.A. The Red Baron

[Washout]

I am his godson, I have spent many hours with both him and Charlie and I don't think anyone has heard the story in more detail or more often than myself. Charlie was quite a guy, he loved to tell stories as where Franz was more quiet and you sometimes had to pry stuff out of him but both together could give you the perspective from each side, Charlie thought for sure they were gone when the 109 approached. Franz always said he got too close when coming in from the rear of the 17 and had a view of the people inside. Seeing the tail gunner condition up close and then realized that's why the tail gunner never fired a shot is what really made him think about not shooting at the 17 along with the others inside he could see attending to the injured. Franz knew he would most likely get caught, court martialed and shot but he let them go anyway.
Funny story with Franz... Many times I drove him to Everett Washington to watch the Me-262's being built at Paine Field, we would drive down and cross the border at Blaine Washington (Pacific Border Crossing) as we got to the border we gave the U.S. border guard our Passports (Franz was never a Canadian citizen, he was still German) the border guard looked at mine and dismissed it right away... then he looked at Franz's and his eyeballs grew about twice the size and he read what seemed forever on the computer. We were then directed inside where Franz had to pay his usual few bucks but this time all the U.S. immigration officers had lined up to shake his hand. I believe Mr. Jim Brodie... (a good friend of Charlies and JEB Bush) had adding something to his information so he would be recognized when in the U.S. but this was before 9/11 when things weren't so tight at the border. Many good stories with Franz, he is missed by everyone here.

[silent_snow]

For some context as I didn't understand at first. Franz pointing down was him asking Charlie to land and surrender. When that didn't work, they flew together to safety. Then Franz pointed towards Sweden which was half an hour away so that they can land safely as their plane was badly damaged. Charlie then said to back off. Franz said when he waved goodbye, the wave was him saying to "get back safely". This is truly an inspirational story and I will be buying the book very soon.

[christianmontagx]

At german Bundeswehr (military) we had a trainer (Stabsunteroffizier) who allways told us: "The enemy is a comrade just on the false side of the line. He doesn't want to be in a war as you doesn't want it either." It's good to see that a soldier is sometimes more a human than a soldier. Thank you!

[galacticshark]

Not a single spoken word and I’m crying like a baby. Moments of humanity that shine through war are what remind me to be the most human and kind that I can. We’re in this together.

[BrazilianSoldier]

Stigler may have not got an iron cross, but he got immortality as a hero!

[OneLastHitBIGo]

Get the book, "A Higher Call". It's the story of this incident and it is one of the best war stories I've ever read. Charlie and Franz both died in 2008 within a few months of each other after coming within the pull of a trigger in 1943, and they died loving each other. I've read their story twice and both times I'm not ashamed to say I cried. Those two men came from a generation of men the likes of which we will never see again.

[xxl]

The way this was animated, the movement and facial expressions conveyed so much emotional expression. Truly a well crafted animated short.

[npmetzy]

A warrior with honor. He knew they were out of the fight.

[koban]

For those wondering what Franz tried to signal to Charlie:
- first he tried to tell them to fly low as they were heading toward the atlantic wall and its strong AA defenses.
- then he signaled right which was the direction of Sweden (as they were near Bremen). That was technically a safer route for them than trying to cross back to England.

[jeddyhi]

Human decency and compassion. No one prays for peace more than a soldier.

[daytonrhine]

The interview with Charlie is amazing. He later 40 or 50 years told everyone about the incident.. and someone somehow heard the same story from a German WW2 pilot veteran. They got eachother on the phone and the story matched up and they both broke down crying on the phone. The interview is amazing too. This 3d edit of it does it this guy did a 10/10 job on the small detail even.

[CAMTHETREBLEMAKER]

I have a neighbor who is Charlie’s Daughter, and she mourns the loss of both men. RIP Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler

[vincentrusso]

Freaking awesomeness, much appreciated for all the hours putting this together.

[rwnagel]

My dad had a classmate who served in the AAF during the war. He said that when the German jets showed up some of the pilots would come close, wave and then go off. After they knew the war was lost they stopped attacking. They were soldiers, not killers.

[TheSimGuy]

This feels like it should be in Love, Death, Robots as the animation is simply top-notch. The music was very fitting in all its somberness and the emotions portrayed and conveyed so well without either speaking a word. A truly moving piece of art.

[mdude]

The emotion shown in their eyes is incredible. Still fighting back tears as I write. Well done.