Four days before Christmas 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a 21-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly, a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber in the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would defy imagination and later be called the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.
This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day—the American—2nd Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a former farm boy from West Virginia who came to captain a B-17—and the German—2nd Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.
A Higher Call follows both Charlie and Franz’s harrowing missions. Charlie would face takeoffs in English fog over the flaming wreckage of his buddies’ planes, flak bursts so close they would light his cockpit, and packs of enemy fighters that would circle his plane like sharks. Franz would face sandstorms in the desert, a crash alone at sea, and the spectacle of 1,000 bombers each with eleven guns, waiting for his attack.
Ultimately, Charlie and Franz would stare across the frozen skies at one another. What happened between them, the American 8th Air Force would later classify as “top secret.” It was an act that Franz could never mention or else face a firing squad. It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search for one another, a last mission that could change their lives forever.
Review
''This book grips you like a movie. It's part 'Top Gun', part 'Valkyrie', and more!'' --Marcus Brotherton, New York Times bestselling author
''It is often said that 'war is hell' - and it is - however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours. A Higher Call is an eye-opener.'' Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII --Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII
'' 'Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?' * The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.'' --Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand*
''A Higher Call exemplifies beautifully the brotherhood of warriors and will forever change how you look at World War II.'' Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author --Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author
''From the horrors of the most savage war in history emerges this beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies. Simply told, splendid, and well worth the read.'' --Joe Galloway, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers, Once . . . and Young
'' 'Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?' * The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.'' --Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand*
''A Higher Call exemplifies beautifully the brotherhood of warriors and will forever change how you look at World War II.'' Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author --Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author
''From the horrors of the most savage war in history emerges this beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies. Simply told, splendid, and well worth the read.'' --Joe Galloway, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers, Once . . . and Young
About the Author
ADAM MAKOS is a journalist, historian, and editor of the military magazine Valor. In his fifteen years of work in the military field, he has interviewed countless veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and present-day wars. He has flown a B-17 bomber and a T-38 fighter with the Air Force and was one of the few journalists privileged to examine Air Force One with its pilots. In pursuit of a story, Makos met presidents, had tea with Prince Charles, and toured the DMZ border in Korea with American troops. The high point of his work occurred in 2008, when he traveled to Iraq to accompany the 101st Airborne and Army Special Forces on their hunt for al-Qaeda terrorists.
Description:
Four days before Christmas 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a 21-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly, a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber in the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would defy imagination and later be called the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.
This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day—the American—2nd Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a former farm boy from West Virginia who came to captain a B-17—and the German—2nd Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.
A Higher Call follows both Charlie and Franz’s harrowing missions. Charlie would face takeoffs in English fog over the flaming wreckage of his buddies’ planes, flak bursts so close they would light his cockpit, and packs of enemy fighters that would circle his plane like sharks. Franz would face sandstorms in the desert, a crash alone at sea, and the spectacle of 1,000 bombers each with eleven guns, waiting for his attack.
Ultimately, Charlie and Franz would stare across the frozen skies at one another. What happened between them, the American 8th Air Force would later classify as “top secret.” It was an act that Franz could never mention or else face a firing squad. It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search for one another, a last mission that could change their lives forever.
Review
''This book grips you like a movie. It's part 'Top Gun', part 'Valkyrie', and more!'' --Marcus Brotherton, New York Times bestselling author
''It is often said that 'war is hell' - and it is - however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours. A Higher Call is an eye-opener.'' Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII --Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII
'' 'Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?' * The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.'' --Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand*
''A Higher Call exemplifies beautifully the brotherhood of warriors and will forever change how you look at World War II.'' Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author --Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author
''From the horrors of the most savage war in history emerges this beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies. Simply told, splendid, and well worth the read.'' --Joe Galloway, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers, Once . . . and Young
'' 'Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?' * The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.'' --Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand*
''A Higher Call exemplifies beautifully the brotherhood of warriors and will forever change how you look at World War II.'' Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author --Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author
''From the horrors of the most savage war in history emerges this beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies. Simply told, splendid, and well worth the read.'' --Joe Galloway, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers, Once . . . and Young
About the Author
ADAM MAKOS is a journalist, historian, and editor of the military magazine Valor. In his fifteen years of work in the military field, he has interviewed countless veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and present-day wars. He has flown a B-17 bomber and a T-38 fighter with the Air Force and was one of the few journalists privileged to examine Air Force One with its pilots. In pursuit of a story, Makos met presidents, had tea with Prince Charles, and toured the DMZ border in Korea with American troops. The high point of his work occurred in 2008, when he traveled to Iraq to accompany the 101st Airborne and Army Special Forces on their hunt for al-Qaeda terrorists.