Book SummaryA Higher Call, by Adam Makos

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of A Higher Call

Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown each came to the encounter with their own personal combat experiences and histories.

Franz Stigler began his quest to become a qualified combat aviator.

Early exposure to gliding fostered a deep love for flying and also brought him into contact with mentors who influenced his principles.

Makos emphasizes Franz's early and intense enthusiasm for aviation, which began with his fascination with gliders. Franz's formative years are described as taking place in a charming Bavarian village during the 1920s, where he, his brother August, and other young locals were part of a glider club overseen by former German Air Force pilots from the First World War. The book portrays a young Franz, full of enthusiasm, chasing after gliders in a field, mesmerized by their elegant soaring. His brother was an early influence, encouraging him to learn from the grand "eagles" and providing guidance on the subtleties associated with flying.

Makos' narrative emphasizes the significant mentorship and authoritative roles that Franz's father and Father Josef, a Catholic priest, played in the club. Franz was taught by both men, who had experienced the atrocities of World War I as pilots, the significance of maintaining integrity and upholding honor. Franz rapidly mended a damaged glider wing, with the understanding that the material used would mask the lesser standard of his repair efforts. His father instilled a life principle within him: "Always act with honor, regardless of whether your actions are witnessed by others." Makos depicts the early life experiences that shaped the character of Franz, which in turn guided his behavior throughout the war.

The experiences he faced during the war and the significant losses he suffered deepened his dedication to the well-being of the German people.

Makos emphasizes that Franz paid little attention to the rising National Socialist Party in Germany during the 1930s. His deep fascination with flight from a young age steered him toward studying aerodynamics and aircraft...

A Higher Call Summary The European skies presented complex challenges and demanding missions for the crews of American bombers as well as the German fighter pilots.

The German Fighter Force encountered a formidable adversary.

The constant threat of being outnumbered compelled aviators to rely on superior tactics and skillfulness.

Makos emphasizes the significant challenges faced by German airmen, who contended with adversaries that outnumbered them and possessed superior technological advancements, all while being supported by the vast industrial resources of the American and British air forces, which seemed to have an endless supply of pilots and aircraft. The author depicts the German aviators as often participating in skirmishes where their numbers were dwarfed by the opposition, with disparities ranging from five to tenfold. Franz's deployment to Africa in 1942 is a notable detail in Makos' narrative. Franz was part of the esteemed "Desert Wing" of JG-27, where he and a select cadre of aviators were tasked with protecting the Afrika Korps from a formidable array of British pilots representing the various nations of the British Empire, pilots who, unlike Franz and his fellow soldiers, benefited from regular rest and reassignment to less dangerous locations, a sharp divergence from the constant struggle with desert warfare that...

A Higher Call Summary The meeting of Stigler with Brown's bomber crew on that day in December 1943 stands as a powerful example of the persistent human capacity for kindness, even during the brutalities of conflict.

Stigler chose not to harm the bomber's crew.

Observing the extensive damage to the plane and recognizing that the crew would likely face a dire fate if they attempted to go back,

Makos unveils that Franz, in his quest for the prestigious 30th kill in the air, came across a B-17 that was an unusual spectacle: a bomber ravaged by bullets, its paint stripped, revealing the silver metal beneath. Franz, who was following the B-17, believed it was on the verge of going down, yet it maintained its course towards England. Franz's realization of his role as a German fighter pilot diminished suddenly. He experienced a surge of feeling that briefly took his mind back to his younger days, a time when he simply witnessed the horrors of the world. His perspective on the B-17 and its crew shifted, allowing him to see them in a new light.

In the cockpit, he observed the weary pilot, the crew tending to their wounded colleagues, and the frightened gunner positioned in the spherical turret beneath the aircraft. Franz determined that a result of that nature would not represent his victory. I will not carry a burden that will weigh on my conscience for life. The experienced soldier...

A Higher Call Summary The subsequent occurrences and their enduring effects on Stigler and Brown's lives, in addition to the broader historical context that shaped their encounters.

The burden of keeping the details of the aerial encounter secret weighed heavily on their minds.

Stigler concealed his actions to avoid disciplinary repercussions, underscoring the harsh penalties faced by those who defied military orders during the conflict.

As the conflict neared its end, Franz carried the burden of his deeds alone, unable to confide in his comrades or any formal entity. He was shot down on December 20, leading to his eventual landing at Jever. He consistently concealed his compassionate deed directed at the crew of an American bomber. Franz understood that ceasing his assault on the bomber was a decision fraught with danger. Franz was acutely aware of the risks involved in not pursuing the enemy aircraft, understanding that such an action could lead to severe consequences, including the possibility of execution by firing squad if his actions were discovered. Therefore, he was eager to distance himself from the location of this perilous deed. The narrative describes the danger encountered by a citizen of Germany for humorously depicting Hitler and Goering atop the Berlin radio tower. Hitler outlines his intentions to take steps that would find favor...