![]() It was when the bullets were passing through the cockpit, then it was personal. Franz always described his Messerschmitt when it was hit by enemy bullets like being hit with a hammer. While Franz was attacking a third bomber that day he was shot down by the tail gunner of the Fortress. On one raid to Schweinfurt, Germany, sixty American bombers were shot down with Franz claiming two bombers for himself. The heavy bombers were targeting German industrial and transportation centers. Franz was pulled back to Austria to defend against the American bomber formations. Franz served briefly in Germany and then in Bulgaria. At first, Franz did not paint his victory marking on the rudder until near the end of the campaign.įranz and his Squadron were transferred to Sicily, then to Italy, as the Allies advanced in the Mediterranean. The panel under the exhaust with the bottom air scoop was painted yellow. The African Campaign for the Luftwaffe was to have the aircraft wing tips, spinner and rudder painted in white. The white 12 number on the fuselage was assigned to Franz. The Messerschmitt Bf 109F that Stigler flew in North Africa and the Mediterranean, is shown above in the “Tropical” paint scheme that the Luftwaffe used during this campaign. All of his victories were against allied fighters, mainly the American P-40, the English Hawker Hurricane and the elite Spitfire. For the next eighteen months, Franz served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, scoring fifteen aerial victories. Von Greim later became Field Marshal Ritter Von Greim, replacing Herman Goering as the last Luftwaffe commander.įranz served as an instructor until February 1942 when he was assigned to Squadron 4/II, JG-27, flying the Bf 109 fighter in combat in North Africa. Franz him self had been instructed by Ritter Von Greim. Franz was a very effective instructor, with many of his students becoming aces like Gerhard Barkhorn, who was credited with 301 confirmed aerial victories. He first taught multi-engine aircraft and later fighter aircraft. He joined Lufthansa and flew an extensive number of single and multi-engine aircraft between 19.įranz officially joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 and became an instructor pilot. He initially studied to become a Monk, although he later trained as an aeronautical engineer.Franz became a glider pilot in 1927 at the age of 12. ![]() Luftwaffe Ace, Oberleutnant Franz Stigler, North Africaįranz Stigler was born on August 21 1915, near the ancient Danube River city of Regensberg, Bavaria, Germany. Poster prints are autographed by the artist only. There are 1000 poster prints in this series. We only have fifteen of these prints left. All prints Prints have been autographed and numbered by the Artist and autographed by the Ace, Franz Stigler.Īll signatures by both the Aviator and the Artist is done in soft graphic pencil. ![]()
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