THE GUARDIAN

by Nicolas Trudgian

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Publisher proof with companion signed photograph $2200.00
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This extraordinarily evocative piece depicts Luftwaffe pilot Franz Stigler in his Messerschmitt Bf109 G-6 of JG27 alongside a badly damaged American B-17 Flying Fortress of the 379th BG.

The German fighter pilot saw the faces of the injured crewmen and decided to take a huge risk. Not only did he spare the damaged B-17, but he also escorted the wounded bomber out of Germany. If anyone on the ground, either a civilian or soldier, had reported him then the fighter pilot would’ve faced a firing squad. In the eyes of his country during war he was a traitor, but to the defenceless American bomber crew, he was their guardian.Now the crew had hopes of reaching England again and it was all thanks to the mysterious German pilot who held his fire.

Many years later they would know his name – Franz Stigler. In 1990 the surviving members of the 379th BG even invited Franz to their reunion and introduced him to their families and explained how he’d given them the greatest of all gifts – the chance to live. 

PUBLISHER PROOF WITH COMPANION SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH

The Publishers Proof Edition features a staggering EIGHTEEN signatures of 8th Air Force and Luftwaffe Veterans, this piece features an extremily rare photograph of the very battle damaged B-17 'Ye Olde Pub' which has been signed by not only the pilot of the Messerscmitt Bf-109 but also the pilot of B-17 'Ye Olde Pub':

  • First Lieutenant Clayton Nattier
  • Second Lieutenant Don Carlson
  • Second Lieutenant Don Nate
  • Oberleutnant Kurt Schulze
  • Sergeant Richard Fuller
  • Sergeant Bill Roche
  • Captain Henry Heintz
  • Lieutenant Newt Moy
  • Staff Sergeant Joe Clarke
  • Captain Sam Satariano
  • Leutnant Eberhard Wörz
  • Leutnant Gernot Heinrichsdorff
  • Staff Sergeant Hugh McGinty
  • Master Sergeant E.E Mischler
  • Lieutenant Colonel Harry Hurlburt
  • Leutnant Jorg Czypionka IRON CROSS
  • Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Brown AFC
  • Oberleutnant Franz Stigler IC
Media:
Lithograph

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