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A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II

Adam Makos (Goodreads Author),

Larry Alexander

4.38 · Rating details · 15,535 ratings · 1,810 reviews

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 ...more

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Hardcover, 392 pages

Published December 19th 2012 by Berkley

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Jan 15, 2013 Jerry Bransford rated it it was amazing

I just completed reading Adam Makos' A Higher Call and I can only say I was absolutely stunned after finishing its final page. I sat quietly for several minutes, staring at the book and flipping through it looking at its pictures again, trying to come to grips with what I had just read. It is a more emotional book than I imagined it would be.

Adam has written a stunning, eye-opening, and breathtaking story of the lives of WWII pilots from both sides of the European Theater, and I dare say his is ...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Jon rated it it was amazing

What's better than a good novel? A great story that is a true and inspirational one!I never write reviews but this book was so good, I thought I had to do so. So many things had to go just right and the timing always had to line up, or this book would never have existed. Brave and honorable men do exist in real life. We just normally don't get to hear about them. Read the book. You'll be glad you did.

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Dec 21, 2012 Karen rated it it was amazing

A Higher Call is mostly the story of Franz Stigler, an ace WWII German fighter pilot who came upon a heavily damaged and helpless American B-17 bomber struggling to return to England. Stigler could have easily shot the bomber down, but instead he escorted them past an anti-aircraft battery and flew along side them for a while out over the North Sea. Stigler knew he would be court-martialed if anyone found out what he had done. For years he wondered if the bomber had made it home safely and he A Higher Call is mostly the story of Franz Stigler, an ace WWII German fighter pilot who came upon a heavily damaged and helpless American B-17 bomber struggling to return to England. Stigler could have easily shot the bomber down, but instead he escorted them past an anti-aircraft battery and flew along side them for a while out over the North Sea. Stigler knew he would be court-martialed if anyone found out what he had done. For years he wondered if the bomber had made it home safely and he wondered, "Was it worth it?". It took 46 years for Stigler to find out that the bomber did return home safely and to finally meet the American bomber pilot, Charlie Brown.

Author Adam Makos provides all the descriptions of battle, dog-fighting and heroism you would expect in a book of this nature but he really focuses on the human side, on the losses. Character after character are introduced only to die. The story of one young German flier is heartbreaking. In the last days of the war he told Stigler that he was going to return home, surrender and that he hoped to study engineering. Stigler asked if he wanted to take just one flight in an Me-262, the world's first operational jet fighter. The boy said yes. Since American bombing had stopped two days before, Stigler thought it would be a safe, quick flight, but the jet's engines cut out and the plane went down. Stigler raced to the crash sight and was able to arrive in time for the boy to ask Stigler to say goodbye to his mother and sister for him. The boy died in Stigler's arms. So many wasted lives.

While the description of Stigler escorting the bomber to safety is moving, the scene that meant the most to me was at a veterans reunion where Charlie Brown introduced Stigler to two of the crewmen who had been onboard the bomber that Stigler spared. As the four men hugged and cried they were joined by the descendants of the American fliers -- people who owed their lives to the act of generosity and kindness shown by Franz Stigler. Stigler and Brown remained close friends until their deaths, both in 2008.

It took 46 years for Stigler to get an answer to the question that had haunted him for so long. Yes, it was worth it. ...more

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Jan 06, 2013 happy rated it really liked it

Shelves: history-world-war-ii

Starting with an encounter between a badly shot up B-17 and an ace German fighter pilot on Christmas Eve of 1943, the author tells the story of the pilots of the 2 airplanes. In telling the story he also tells a little of his own growth in researching that story.

While this book is the story of the two pilots, Charlie Brown (yes that’s really his name) who was piloting the B-17 and Franz Stigler, who was flying the ME109, this narrative is mainly Stigler's story. At the time of the encounter
Starting with an encounter between a badly shot up B-17 and an ace German fighter pilot on Christmas Eve of 1943, the author tells the story of the pilots of the 2 airplanes. In telling the story he also tells a little of his own growth in researching that story.

While this book is the story of the two pilots, Charlie Brown (yes that’s really his name) who was piloting the B-17 and Franz Stigler, who was flying the ME109, this narrative is mainly Stigler's story. At the time of the encounter Stigler was just a victory away from completing the requirements for being awarded a Knights Cross, one of Germany's highest awards for valor. Remarkably, Franz decides to let the B-17 go and even escorted through a flak belt until it reached the North Sea. While Mr. Makos tells both men’s story the majority of the narrative follows Lt Stigler. The author follows Stigler through his war and how he became a fighter pilot and eventually to fly the ME-262 jet fighter in the closing days of the war. Never a Nazi, Stigler is portrayed as a man who was fighting the good fight for a bad cause. A prewar Lufthansa pilot, he became civilian instructor pilot for the Luftwaffe, where he taught many of the men who flew with the Condor Legion in Spain. He was eventually dragooned into the Luftwaffe when he complained that he got no respect from the aviation cadets because he was a civilian.

The narrative illuminates what the life of a fighter pilot was like in the Luftwaffe. For example in telling the story of Stigler’s service in North Africa, the sand, bad food and probably more importantly the comradeship between pilots and their crew chiefs/mechanics is well drawn. In fact, when North Africa falls, Stigler along with most of his squadron mates squeeze their mechanics into their airplanes when they are transferred to Sicily rather than let them be captured. During this period Stigler’s ambition to win a Knights Cross is emphasized.

As the war drags on, Stigler’s ambition for glory wanes. He often gives the credit for airplanes he shoots down to young pilots in his squadron. Finally in the waning days of the war, he requests permission to join VG-44 and Adolf Galland in flying the ME-262. His story of the last days of the war is heart rending, esp when he gives in to the pleas of one of his young pilots, who really has no business flying such a high performance aircraft, and lets the young man fly a combat sortie. The young pilot crashes on landing, is horribly burned and eventually dies.

Charlie Brown’s story doesn’t take up anywhere near the pages of the narrative, but then again his war was nowhere as long. In comparison to the Germans who basically flew until they were killed, the Americans had a fairly short combat tour of 25 missions (3-6 months of flying) at the time Brown was flying. At the time of his encounter with Stigler, Brown was on only his second mission. He was able to nurse his airplane back to Britain and when he told his story, it was met with disbelief and then classified! Mr Markos does tell the story of the rest of Brown's tour, including some very scary moments of noncombat flying – climbing through heavy clouds full of other airplanes with the danger of collisions at any moment, flying at 20-25,000 ft in an unheated aircraft where the temperature was up to -40F etc. This section is also very enlightening, but takes up less than half of the pages of Stigler’s story

The final section of the book is how the two men eventually met and became fast friends until their deaths in 2008. After the war Stigler spent many years trying to find fate of the men he spared but, was unsuccessful until they finally met at reunion in the late '80s.

This is the kind of story that restores ones faith in humanity! It’s a solid 4 star read.
...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Linda B.D. rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: war-love-romance-struggles, true-misc, true-survival-of-a-family, war, 5-star-book, greatest-books-ever-read, some-favorite-books-keepers

I bought this book for my husband. I usually read time travel, romance, and apocalyptic books. I read the cover and it sounded interesting. I've always loved non-fiction-especially history concentrating on time travel during the Civil War. After all, this is a New York Times Best Seller, so I decided to give it a try, thinking I would read the first chapter then fall asleep. With 371 pages also filled with many, many pictures (never printed before), I was captured with the plot immediately. No ...more

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Jun 17, 2013 A.L. Sowards rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history-wwii, history-1900s, group-reads-wwii, 2014, nonfiction

I really enjoyed this book. After looking at the cover and reading the back, I expected it to be the story of a US bomber crew and a German fighter pilot. In reality, the majority of the book was about the German fighter pilot, Franz Stigler, but that didn’t make the book any less enjoyable. I’ve read more about American bomber crews than about German fighters anyway, so I liked the unexpected focus.

The highlight of the book involved (view spoiler) I really enjoyed this book. After looking at the cover and reading the back, I expected it to be the story of a US bomber crew and a German fighter pilot. In reality, the majority of the book was about the German fighter pilot, Franz Stigler, but that didn’t make the book any less enjoyable. I’ve read more about American bomber crews than about German fighters anyway, so I liked the unexpected focus.

The highlight of the book involved (view spoiler)

Though the majority of the book covered Franz and the German pilots he worked with, Makos was able to capture in a very short time a feeling of what the bomber crews went through. He revealed that one of the crew members was hording chocolate rations (his own, and any his crew mates would give to him) for an upcoming Christmas party as gifts for the English children who would attend. (On a poignant note, the crew member, a gunner, didn’t live to see the party, instead dying on his first combat mission.) He also showed a pilot trying to shave (masks sealed better on clean-shaven faces, so shaving was important), but the poor man’s hands were shaking so badly that he nicked himself three times in a row.

I’ve long known that not every German during WWII was a Nazi. Franz and his family were opposed to Hitler from early on. What I didn’t realize was how tepid enthusiasm for the Nazis was in general among the German air force. (Granted, this book takes place mostly after the tide has turned, beginning in N. Africa—some of them may have felt differently in 1939-41, when the German war machine had yet to suffer any major setbacks. Also, Franz may have been drawn toward others with political philosophies similar to himself.)

Franz began the war as a commercial pilot. Then he served as an instructor, then a fighter pilot in N. Africa, Sicily, Germany, and ultimately with Adolf Galland’s group of pilots in the closing days of the war, flying the new German jet, the Me 262. With that last group, Franz and his associates knew the war was lost, but they were determined to defend German cities from aerial bombardment. Their reasoning was that if they could save one child from being killed, they were fulfilling their duty. Yet as a modern reader who knew when Hitler would kill himself and when the final surrender would take place, their efforts seemed tragic. Perhaps knocking a group of bombers from 200 to 190 would keep a few houses safe . . . but not necessarily. The men were flying a new plane. None of them were all that familiar with it, and the Me 262’s engine (made with inferior materials because better ones weren’t available in Germany that late in the war) had a habit of stalling, exploding, and otherwise causing death to pilots. There were many accidents resulting in death or horrible injuries in March and April of 1945—it made me wish the men, most of them accomplished pilots, would sit out the remainder of the war and go home to their families.

The final part of the book covers Franz and Charlie during their post-war lives, including their unlikely reunion.

Overall, this is one I recommend. It’s written for a general audience, so even readers only marginally familiar with WWII will be able to enjoy this true story. ...more

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Jun 01, 2016 Pamela rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, military-non-fiction, biography-memoir, germany, war, history, inspirational, aviation

"Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?"

If there is any honor and beauty to be found in war, this is it: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II. Even in war, miracles happen and God extends grace.

After reading Makos' latest release - Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice - a truly phenomenal book - and now this one, I'm totally in awe of his moral integrity, tenacious resolve, and dedication to ...more

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Nov 09, 2017 Pramodya rated it it was amazing

This book was phenomenal...

I knew from the very first few chapters, that I was gonna end up enjoying this book very much.
This blend of beautiful and harrowing experiences, written together with incredibly researched work makes this such a well executed book.

I have to say this book is mainly about the German pilot who according to his amarican counterpart was the ‘hero of this story’.

I loved that it was written with such a wide perspective from the Germans side since the time of his childhood. ...more

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May 16, 2013 Laurel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, history, ww2, ebooks, non-fiction-challenge, owned-books-challenge

I just finished reading A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World
War II. I was a little skeptical about the use of the word "incredible" in the title. I discovered that the author chose it for the best of reasons- it's totally accurate. This is an incredible book to read and experience from a personal and historical point of view; plus the story it weaves about two pilots from opposing sides is truly incredible! It is difficult to write this I just finished reading A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World
War II. I was a little skeptical about the use of the word "incredible" in the title. I discovered that the author chose it for the best of reasons- it's totally accurate. This is an incredible book to read and experience from a personal and historical point of view; plus the story it weaves about two pilots from opposing sides is truly incredible! It is difficult to write this review without sounding sappy or as if I am gushing...it is that good.

Anyone who has professes to have a genuine interest in the human side of war, especially if you are willing to think about the War in Europe from the perspective of either side, represented by German ace Franz Stigler, and the American side, represented by B-17 pilot Charlie Brown; this book is a must read for you. I was deeply moved while reading many parts of this book-several times to tears, such that I closed it up for a while to let the visual pictures in my head reside there, quietly.

I did not expect this book to read like a novel, full of tension, and page-turning apprehension/excitement. At mid point, when these two adversaries met in battle over Germany, I kept reading until 3 a.m. this morning, until that particular part of the tale was resolved. I finished the book in one long sitting today. Makos' craft as a writer is well- honed. He is able to weave informational and statistical material throughout his text, without ever losing the threads of human interest that bind the parts of this interlocking story together. Those of us who appreciate the bravery of "ordinary" men in extraordinary times, owe Makos our thanks. A remarkable story with all of its twists and turns, from Munich and the northern shores of Africa, to the landing fields of England, and eventually to the shores of Canada and the United States, might have remained untold.

Additionally, I learned a great deal of new information from this book, and have a better idea what it might have been like to be part of a B-17bomber crew, or what it took to become an Ace in the Luftwaffe, without caving in to the incredible pressures exerted by Goerring, or the Gestapo.

Makos has written another book called Voices of the Pacific, which I intend to read. I hope that it achieves the level of excellence found in A Higher Call.
...more

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Dec 23, 2014 Paul rated it it was amazing

This was a great book. At Christmastime in 1943, a German – who was already one of the leading fighter pilots at that point of the war – comes across a severely damaged B-24, barely able to fly, but instead of shooting it down, he leads it out into the Atlantic – and gives the crew a chance to survive. He had never shown such mercy before, and the risk of his own execution was profoundly real, yet he couldn’t bring himself to shoot them down. The two pilots met nearly 50 years later, and that ...more

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Aug 08, 2017 Tim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: world-war-two, non-fiction, aviation

A German fighter pilot tracks a lonely American heavy bomber trying to escape back to Britain after bombing a German city. The bomber is so shot to pieces that Lieutenant Franz Stigler is amazed it’s still able to fly. The rear gunner is dead. None of the plane’s other guns are working. The American pilot is a twenty one year old rookie.

This confrontation between an American pilot and a German pilot in December 1943 is the hinge that holds this riveting book together. We get a detailed account ...more

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Jul 09, 2014 Nooilforpacifists rated it liked it

Shelves: world-war-two-history

Stretches one event for an entire book, yet. . . The most interesting parts are the disintegration of the mighty Luftwaffe, and how a "Band of Brothers" of true believers -- not in National Socialism, but in air power -- escaped during the last months of war, from Göring's grasp. They slid to Austria with an ever-decreasing number of serviceable aircraft, plus the few remaining Messerschmitt jets.

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Jan 13, 2019 Olivia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-2, favorites, heroes, historical, late-teens-17-19, biographies, for-writing, my-real-bookshelf, non-fiction, adult-readers-20

Franz and Charlie.
On opposites sides.
But united through the bond of a horrific moment captured in the midst of battle.

This is an incredibly emotional story that was both informative, intriguing, and easily visualized. It's not often true stories can hold a readers attention so well, but this one far surpassed what I expected. The moment between Franz and Charlie is brief compared to the extent of the rest of the book, but I wasn't bored in the least. You get to see both Franz and Charlie's life ...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Anne rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: historical, ww-ii, europe, biography, non-fiction

If I could have given more than 5*****, I would have. This book was that good. it was so well written, yet the story could have written itself. It is something you usually read about in novels, but think, "This could not be for real." But yes, it was. I concerns two WWII pilots, Franz Stigler, a German and Charlie Brown, an American. Neither was political. Stigler was a young German born of devout Roman Catholic family in Bavaria who were avidly anti-Nazi and Charlie was the son of American If I could have given more than 5*****, I would have. This book was that good. it was so well written, yet the story could have written itself. It is something you usually read about in novels, but think, "This could not be for real." But yes, it was. I concerns two WWII pilots, Franz Stigler, a German and Charlie Brown, an American. Neither was political. Stigler was a young German born of devout Roman Catholic family in Bavaria who were avidly anti-Nazi and Charlie was the son of American farmers. Both were dedicated to their countries. One day, Charlie was bombing northern Germany when a score of German fighters appeared around him. he was strafed on all sides, and his plane was rapidly getting punched to pieces by all the bullets. Suddenly the German fighters were gone, and Charlie was just beginning to hope he could turn around and try and make it home when a lone German plane showed up on his right wing. Franz Stigler. At first Charlie thought "this is it" we are goners. but for some strange reason no shots were fires and the German pilot hung on their right wing as they turned towards the North Sea. He kept pointing and mouthing words which were intelligibly to the Americans, but Franz was trying to get them to go to Sweden, a 1/2 hours flight where they could be safe. But Charlie did not understand, not did he realize that the German gunners on the North Sea shore did not fire because they saw one of their own with the American plane and figured he was going to take them down over the water. But instead he escorted them farther out to a safe area and watched them turn toward England. Saying a prayer he returned to Germany. Neither plot knew the other and Franz knew he had to keep quiet or he could be shot.
The story continued mostly about Franz and the difficulty of his next two years under the failing German fighting. he continued half-hearted and witnessed the hell that the people were going through due to the greed of Hitler and Goering. Goering in one part showed his absolute evil in refusing to give the Air Force the newly minted Jet fighters and kept them for the bombers as the Air force went on with younger and less trained pilots in older and worse planes.
When the war was over, both men went on with their lives, sometimes thinking about each other and the odds that the other might had survived. When they were old men, Franz, who had moved to Vancouver B.C. was attending a get together of pilots from the war and decided to tell his story. It went out to the world, and somehow, Charlie Brown read about it, the two men met. It was so beautiful, I cried-especially when the haters came out against Franz, a good and decent man calling him a Nazi, which he never was. But it sure was one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. I am not a fan of warfare, but this was so good, some of the battled did not bother me because the story was that good. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to read a moving and beautiful story of the decency of one German pilot and the men who lived because of him. ...more

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Oct 07, 2013 Ranjeev Dubey rated it it was ok

I guess you would say this book is flogging a dead bomber. The story is worth 1000 words, maybe 2000 but having been there and done that, the authors have gone on to stretch it into a book. Its a lot of stretching.

Still, I read it through because somewhere in all this, I learnt a lot more about what life was like for German airmen supporting the Africa Corps in WW2. Considerably more interesting was Luftwaffe experience of the last days of the Third Reich and even more, the truth about the ...more

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Dec 03, 2013 JD rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, ww2-in-the-air

What a great book!!! This is the first book I have read from a German viewpoint and it has opened my eyes to a whole new history of WW2. This is an awesome book and Makos brings to life the side of the Luftwaffe in it's air battles against the Allies, and what those pilots faced daily. Incredible book!!!

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Nov 15, 2015 Jeff Dawson rated it it was amazing

A tribute to all airmen.

An absolutely brilliant work! I cannot say enough of this true World War Two account of Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown. I’ve read many accounts where soldiers from both sides would come to meet one another during a lull in the action. There are countless stories of this occurring in World War I and II. Many of them occur around Christmas when it’s “Good will towards men.”
But none of the stories compare to this one.

Charley’s B-17 has been riddled with bullets, flak and A tribute to all airmen.

An absolutely brilliant work! I cannot say enough of this true World War Two account of Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown. I’ve read many accounts where soldiers from both sides would come to meet one another during a lull in the action. There are countless stories of this occurring in World War I and II. Many of them occur around Christmas when it’s “Good will towards men.”
But none of the stories compare to this one.

Charley’s B-17 has been riddled with bullets, flak and cannon rounds. How the plane is flying defies the law of physics. He has no idea one stabilizer is gone and the majority of his rudder has been shot off. With one finicky engine, since take-off and one flamed out, he and his crew are fighting for their lives.

Enter Luftwaffe ace, Franz Stigler. He has landed and is ready to get back in the fight. If he can stop one “our motor” from dropping its load or stopping it from a repeat mission, he has served the Fatherland.

He rearms, refuels and takes off to defend his country. He comes upon the stricken bomber. Rather than blowing it out of the sky, he is mesmerized by the sight before him. His thoughts turn to a time when as a child he learned about aerodynamics and the forces required to fly. He thinks back to the day he’s informed his brother was shot down and died. With the bomber filling his screen and is seconds from opening up with his guns and cannons to finish the wounded plane, he realizes the tail gunner isn’t firing. Upon closer inspection he sees the man is dead. He removes his finger from the trigger and does something unimaginable—he moves to the left wing and escorts the bomber over Germany and through the toughest concentration of flak batteries protecting Bremen.

Charlie and his crew know they are done when they see the plane. The German pilot keeps making a motion to them they don’t understand.

After a harrowing flight, Charlie nurses his bomber back to England. Franz returns to his base and makes no mention of the “court martial offense” he performed. When Charlie notifies his commander of the mission, he is told to never speak of it again.

I appreciate how the authors wove the stories of the two men in an excellent chronological method. It’s not your typical memoir. The writing puts the reader side-by-side with the two men as their paths slowly, but surely converge on that fateful meeting in 1943 over the war torn skies of Germany.

This isn’t a work of war, it’s a song of common men coming together for a brief moment in time to remind them that valor, bravery and decency are a common denominator.

Do the two men meet years later to discuss that amazing day? For that, you’ll have to read the story.

Five stars
...more

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Jul 14, 2019 Sweetwilliam rated it it was amazing

I sometimes hesitate to recommend certain books because they can be a chore to read. Adam Makos books are different. They read like novels and they always start out painless, maintain the reader’s interest and end with a reunion of the combatants. It is recipe for success.

A Higher Call is a must read for all WWII aficionados, history buffs, and aviation enthusiasts. Heck, even the dabblers will enjoy this one. Like every Makos book, it entertains from start to finish and it does not intimidate. ...more

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Feb 08, 2015 Monica Johnson rated it did not like it

I feel awful rating this book with 1 star. I thought I would be enraptured. The reviews are amazing. I read, and read, and read, but just could not get into it. I finally put it down, because I had a stack of books that were breathing down my neck. Another embarrassing confession: My elderly next door neighbor lent me the book when he found out how much I enjoyed "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. They are the sweetest neighbors you could ever ask for, and after I tried for months to get into this ...more

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Aug 27, 2018 Bou rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, english, world-war-2, downloaded, on-ereader, ebook, amazon-bought

A small act of humanity saves many lives. When a German ace pilot refuses to shoot down a damaged B-17 bomber, the German pilot is later re-united with those who he saved.

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Apr 08, 2018 Katherine Wacker rated it really liked it

In Adam Makos’s A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II, the author relays the tale of two pilots destined to meet from opposite sides of the war. Franz Stigler, a veteran German pilot known for his exploits in the air and one kill away from becoming an ace, sees a badly damaged B-17 and makes a heroic choice. Charlie Brown, the young American of the limping bird, knows that he and his crew are living on borrowed time when the ...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Leonard Romney rated it it was amazing

I am an avid reader of WWII sweeping histories, personal stories, events. etc. This book, A Higher Call, is one of the best, in my opinion. I lived in Germany for 2 1/2 years in the early 1960's, being a missionary there for the LDS Church. That experience whetted my life long obsession with all aspects of the war, partially started by the Nazi's under Hitler. This true story recounts the acts of a german fighter pilot who endangered himself by shepherded a horribly damaged B17 out of Germany ...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Steven rated it it was amazing

I felt this was extremely well written and an incredible story that needed to be told. I had read some reviews that stated they didn't care for how the stories of the 2 different men told in flashback were interspersed but I followed the flow extremely well. The thing that struck me was how my impressions of 2 pilots on different sides of the war had, in reality, a same common enemy that they felt dragged them into battle. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it my highest recommendation.

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Aug 01, 2013 Evan rated it it was amazing

As a guy who reads volumes of pilot bios and has high rated some classics, let me say this...ONLY this book made me Misty-Eyed for 20 minutes during the wrap-up. That's because it is a piece of human drama at a war backdrop, and not the other way around.

On one hand, there is an account of an American bomber crew who survived at both the mercy, grace, and self-sacrificing chivalry of their opponent. But theirs is the highlight side story tale, which brought this bio to life.

On the other hand, it As a guy who reads volumes of pilot bios and has high rated some classics, let me say this...ONLY this book made me Misty-Eyed for 20 minutes during the wrap-up. That's because it is a piece of human drama at a war backdrop, and not the other way around.

On one hand, there is an account of an American bomber crew who survived at both the mercy, grace, and self-sacrificing chivalry of their opponent. But theirs is the highlight side story tale, which brought this bio to life.

On the other hand, it is a bio of German Ace Stigler, whose name is little known to followers of the genre - though he was wrapped around so many famous characters from the genre that its surprising he'd escaped with so little notice elsewhere as a side character in other bios. Much of the reason for this is explained by this tale - the chivalry tale of the 'enemy' both sparing and escorting his wounded opponents to safety, then spending the rest of the war avoiding tracking his victories as his mind burned with the close-horror image of those he'd spared making it so hard for him to desire any credit for the less direct killings he'd actually caused while continuing to serve.

While ace records keepers might wonder where his score would be today since he claimed hardly any kills for years after sparing this one crew - that's the point! He clearly was in the company of ace 'giants' whose actual scores were public. For Mr. Stigler, such things were a shameful burden he avoided, and he refocused his job on keeping the rookies alive and competent for their own sakes, and the illusory glory of war was lost to his earlier overachieving self.

While some followers of the genre and WW-II history will be surprised by his in depth exposure to the shocking incompetence and insanity of Nazi leadership, those who've read General Galland's book will see so much corroborated by yet another secretive Anti-Nazi officer (fearing the gestapo) whilst highly placed in the German air force. it is another credit to he and his brethren to tell of their near escapes from their own government's witch hunts whilst serving in life/death front line duty.

Anyone who follows WW-II flying is widely aware that we must look past the governments they had to serve to judge the man and his actions. This book stands apart as a shining example of the humanity of warriors and the healing of wounds with time.

But, never mind all that. This is a touching tale of humanity under the worst circumstances, and redemption on both sides, forty years later. That is the story here, and that detail makes the rest of it academic. ...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Katherine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-books, nonfiction, ww2

Wow - what an amazing story! This book tells the story of a German fighter pilot and an American bomber pilot that had a brief encounter in the skies over Germany during WWII. The author's extensive research fills in the details and the book is told primarily from the perspective of the German fighter pilot. The author's forward addresses this; he was initially reluctant to interview the enemy but changed his tune after meeting Franz Stigler (Stigler set him straight on their first visit that he ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Grumpus rated it it was amazing

Shelves: history, audiobook

What to say? Freakin' Amazing !

Just another example of the Greatest Generation. Chivalry, bravery, and honor among pilots amidst the horror of war.

I was going to give this 4 stars but the tear-jerking ending boosted it to 5-stars.

If you are a WWII buff, enjoy history, or looking for an amazing story, read it, read it, read it!

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Mar 06, 2013 Dhiraj Sharma rated it it was amazing

“Gentlemanly War”… isn’t this an Oxymoron. I mean what could be gentlemanly when you are trying your best to kill your enemy, shoot bullets into him and make widows and orphans in the process.

This is the extraordinary and unbelievable story of Lt. Franz Stigler of Luftwaffe and Lt. Charlie Brown of USAAF during World War-II.

Lt Franz spared the life of Charlie Brown’s crew on their 1st bombing run over Germany and let the plane fly back to England by shielding it thru German Flak. He could have ...more

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May 03, 2015 Christopher Cerda rated it it was amazing

If there have been two events that have undoubtedly had the greatest effect on the course of modern age they would be World War 1 and World War 2. They both demonstrate the horror of war and the atrocities that mankind can commit while also showing the cost that it can inflict upon the world. From the Lost Generation to the Jewish Holocaust, the two Great Wars have shown us the deepest depths of what humans can inflict upon ourselves.

But even though these two terrible wastes of human life have If there have been two events that have undoubtedly had the greatest effect on the course of modern age they would be World War 1 and World War 2. They both demonstrate the horror of war and the atrocities that mankind can commit while also showing the cost that it can inflict upon the world. From the Lost Generation to the Jewish Holocaust, the two Great Wars have shown us the deepest depths of what humans can inflict upon ourselves.

But even though these two terrible wastes of human life have shown us our darkest side, they have also shown us at our best. These wars have shown us the bravery, courage and sacrifice that hundreds displayed for for their country, family, friends and those brothers they made in the war torn trenches and fox holes all across the globe. Many of these stories are of the bravest allied soldiers, wading through a hail of bullets to save a single man, capturing of hills by single squads and the holding of positions that seem hopeless. These wars gave America the image of the conquering heroes that would come to define us for the following century and even today. Yes indeed. Ever since these wars the images of events like the Normandy landings (otherwise known as D-day) and of the capture of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima have imprinted into us the ideal of the all conquering hero against the Axis forces like Hilter and his legions of Nazis.

But what of the stories of those soldiers who weren't part of the allies? What of those of the so called Nazi legions, or other Axis powers? What of those who never even fought on the ground, but in the great expanse above our world? What of those who fought and died for the countries that lost these wars? Those who lost their lives in the skies over their homeland deformed by countless bombs and battles? What of those of the Luftwaffe? The great German airforce.

Well I tell you now. If you are one of those people who believed that america, or the allies did no wrong in the wars, if you are one of those who believes that every German was a Nazi monster fit only to kill and follow the orders of madmen, then I invite you to read this book and experience the second world war from the view point of one German fighter pilot ace as he fights through the war, not for the Nazis, or The Party as they are often referred to in the book, but for the people of his country hes loves that he slowly watches fall apart. I invite you to the incredible true story of Franz Stigler. A man born to fly. And a man who would one day display one of the greatest acts of chivalry and courage of either world war. A man who would one day answer A Higher Call.

In this book you will read of stories Franz as he fought in the war across three fronts in Africa, Italy and finally Germany and of those of the men that he met along the way. And eventually you will learn of the story of one Charlie Brown, and American bomber pilot and his bomber crew until the two men meet in what can only be called an event of honor, and courage the kind that only occurs onnce in a century.

The book is honestly a brilliant read as you follow Franz's story you will read what it was like for those in the German airforce and read stories that will make laugh, feel sick, feel proud, feel alone, and possibly even ones that will make you cry. You will also read of a story of two old enemies finding each other years after the war and becoming brothers.

I fully recommend this book to anyone who is big into World War 2 history, or is just looking for an inspiration true tales of men who fought through this terrible period in our history.

I must also give a recommendation to the man who read the audio book, one Robertson Dean, who truly brings the stories to life through his reading.

And needless to say that since this is a book about world war 2 airmen told by them to the writer there is a certain amount of swearing. But it's not too excessive and ultimate doesn't take away from the experience.

I have absolutely no qualms with giving this book a full five stars. If you have any even miniscule interest in what I've talked about so far then GO GET THIS BOOK! Better yet, go get the audio book. It's awesome. ...more

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Nov 05, 2014 Stephan Kapustka rated it it was amazing

A Higher moral code in the skies of WW2 Reviewed 11/5/2014

In the war torn skies of Europe in late 1943, during World War II, a lone B-17 bomber limps home. It is badly beaten, and several crew members are dead or critically wounded. Just when the pilot, Charley Brown, didn't think things could get any worse, a seeming nightmare appeared. A German Messerschmidt BF-109G appeared behind them. And its pilot, Franz Stigler, wasn't an incompetent either. He was a veteran of the North African campaign, A Higher moral code in the skies of WW2 Reviewed 11/5/2014

In the war torn skies of Europe in late 1943, during World War II, a lone B-17 bomber limps home. It is badly beaten, and several crew members are dead or critically wounded. Just when the pilot, Charley Brown, didn't think things could get any worse, a seeming nightmare appeared. A German Messerschmidt BF-109G appeared behind them. And its pilot, Franz Stigler, wasn't an incompetent either. He was a veteran of the North African campaign, and was an was airmen would call an "ace", which is a pilot who has scored 5 victories(German pilots insisted on using the term "victories", not "kills"), and lived to tell the tale. This was a man who could have blasted the crippled bomber out of the sky effortlessly, so he came up to the plane.... and escorted it out of German airspace? Not to spoil the book to much, but Franz's actions were a result of his moral code, which he learned during the fighting in Africa. His commander, in particular, promised to kill any of his men who shot an enemy in a parachute. To Franz, shooting Charley's plane down would have been just as bad as shooting a man in a parachute. Decades after the war, the 2 miraculously got in touch with each other, and were best friends until the day they died(both in 2008) It was very interesting to read about both men's experiences, Franz's in particular. His and other pilot's disillusionment with the leaders of Germany, and yet still the strong desire to fight until the end. The book does focus more on Franz than Charley, but I think this is justified; aside from Charley insisting on it being like that, Franz served the entire war, as the Germans couldn't rotate out their pilots after a few missions like the Allies could.As such these insights made for a very strong and interesting read, especially about Franz's experiences flying the Me-262, the first operational jet fighter, late in the war. I strongly recommend this book for anyone vaguely interested in World War 2. ...more

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Mar 24, 2014 Jeff rated it it was amazing

Shelves: histories

A Higher Call is a very interesting book from a number of viewpoints. As the number of our WW II veterans dwindle, because of aging, this book serves as a reminder of how war is experienced by the combatants. As a student of the war and having an interest in the air forces i.e planes and their pilots, this book is an outstanding recounting of the challenges of aerial combat during WW II.
This book touts itself to be an account of a spectacular encounter between a German fighter pilot and an A Higher Call is a very interesting book from a number of viewpoints. As the number of our WW II veterans dwindle, because of aging, this book serves as a reminder of how war is experienced by the combatants. As a student of the war and having an interest in the air forces i.e planes and their pilots, this book is an outstanding recounting of the challenges of aerial combat during WW II.
This book touts itself to be an account of a spectacular encounter between a German fighter pilot and an American bomber pilot just days away from Christmas day in 1943. But really it is an outstanding recounting of the war career and life of the German fighter pilot and ace Franz Stigler. Yes the encounter is detailed but it is the rest of the book about Stigler that was very interesting. Interesting how not all Germans embraced the Nazi party, how the German air force for the most part had a code of chivalrous conduct that most adhered to, how the war ground down everyone who were involved in it even children who grew up being afraid of the night skies, and how the German people were horrified into unbelief when the found out the true nature of the concentration camps that had been operating.
This book sheds a lot of light upon the German officers whom Franz served with and their encounters with some of the top military figures who were responsible for the war and the atrocities that were committed.
The book is written in a narrative style that tried to put the experiences into story form. For me that was both good and bad. Good in that it made this book easy to read but bad in that at times it seemed as though I was reading a fictional story rather than a historical recounting.
Overall, this book is an outstanding read even if you are only curious about the war time incident between a German fighter pilot, an American bomber pilot with his plane falling apart around him and what happened between them that bonded them to each other for the rest of their lives.
Highly recommended. ...more

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About Adam Makos

Adam Makos

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Hailed as “A masterful storyteller” by the Associated Press, Adam Makos is the author of the New York Times bestseller, A Higher Call, and the critically-acclaimed, Devotion. Inspired by his grandfathers’ service, Adam chronicles the stories of American veterans in his trademark “You Are There” style, landing him “in the top ranks of military writers,” according to the Los Angeles Times. In ...more