Last weekend, the Liberty Foundation was in Florida doing a tour with the B-17 “Ye Olde Pub” and P-51. The B-17 and P-51 are owned by the Erickson Collection, which is based in Madras Oregon but leased to the Liberty Foundation. Both ground tours and flights were available.
The paint scheme on the B-17 pays honor to an event from WW2 and has been covered in a book called “A Higher Calling” by Adam Makos.
On December 20, 1943, two enemy pilots met in the skies over Germany – an American, Charlie Brown – and a German, Franz Stigler. What transpired would be called: “WWII’s most incredible aerial encounter.” The unlikely encounter between one of German’s leading fighter aces and the rookie crew of an American bomber in the frigid skies of Germany in December 1943 – upon engaging the already damaged American Plane, Stigler had mercy on his enemies and escorted them to safety.
Florida Warbirds 