When a German fighter escorted a US bomber to safety in World War II
It is the peak of World War II. A B-17 bomber is flying over German territory, Alone.
The usual Bomber escorts have deserted the bomber for a reason. The bomber has lost 3 of its four engines and limping back home. A limping plane with no escort fighters is a sitting duck for Luftwaffe.
A Luftwaffe fighter rose above the cloud and came near the B-17 bomber. The pilot of the bomber clutched to his stick and expected a hit any time. But the Luftwaffe pilot did not shoot the B-17 bomber.
The Luftwaffe fighter Messerschmidt protected the B-17 bomber until the end of German airspace and bid goodbye. As Europe faced ferocious battles, there were moments of friendship.
Prelude:
The battle for the sky over Germany and Britain was entering a stalemate from 1941.
After the fall of France to German “Blitzkrieg”, all offensive stopped at the North Atlantic coast of France. Luftwaffe chief Herman Goering took the task of frightening Britain to surrender using Luftwaffe. What lasted until the invasion of the USSR was the bombardment of Britain by Luftwaffe termed as “Battle of Britain”.
Until 1941 the Royal Air force took a more defensive stand by warding off Luftwaffe bombers entering…
