He emigrated to Canada in 1953 and became a successful businessman. He bailed out six times and rode his damaged aircraft down eleven times.

He flew 487 combat missions, was wounded four times, and was shot down seventeen times, four by enemy fighters, four by ground fire, and nine times by gunners on American bombers. Adolf Galland's elite JV 44, 'Squadron of Experts,' flying the Me-262 jet.įranz was credited with 28 confirmed victories and over thirty probables. He served as a Squadron Commander of three squadrons (Numbers 6, 8, and 12, of JG 27) and twice a Wing Commander, all flying Bf 109 fighters.įranz formed EJG-1, possibly the first ever pre-jet training squadron before being hand picked as the Technical Officer of Gen. Franz flew combat in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Western Europe. There, he became an instructor pilot, with one of his students being Gerhard Barkhorn, who would later become the second highest scoring Ace in history with over 300 victories.įranz transferred to Bf 109 fighter aircraft upon learning of the loss of his brother August, who died piloting a bomber shot down over the English Channel.

He joined Lufthansa, becoming an Airline Captain, before joining the Luftwaffe in 1940. I could write pages telling you how amazing this story is, and how it stuck with an old WWII nut like me.īut I will not, however I cannot recommend this book enough!Ībout Franz Stigler and his amazing career and life:įranz Stigler started flying gliders at age 12 and soloed in a bi-plane in 1933. Wanting to do this build for over a year now, ever since i finished reading the book A Higher Call by Adam Makos.

The book a higher call