The P-51 Mustang Pilot that Killed a German in his Parachute - Brutal True Story of Richard Peterson

This is the true story of World War II ace Richard Peterson who killed a German pilot in his parachute in one of the most brutal dogfighting stories of World War II. This historical recreation was made using the World War II flight simulator IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles series. Hope you enjoy! Please like, comment, and subscribe.
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[@TJ3]

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[@snydedon9636]

Well did he marry that woman?

[@jasonrhodes9683]

Why do we care about this now? It seems a little late to worry about this now. Bullshit, it happened all the time, especially the Germans. Sorry for your luck.

[@drstrangelove4998]

Sorry, I call BS on this story.

[@thereallyaverageplayer]

0

[@frankbattlejr981]

How is it news if it’s from ww2? We’ll get a newsletter that says Breaking News! The German Sixth Army was surrounded & General Paulus just capitulated and the Stalingrad pocket has been liquidated in the Soviet counter offensive. Maria is live in the heart of the city where German prisoners were recently marched off into captivity. Maria, what’s it look like at ground zero of this groundbreaking development? Well Chip as you can see there’s kids swinging on a playground behind me and I asked them what they thought about their city being liberated and they all seem to be in a state of disbelief because not one could give me their thoughts on the situation. I mean for such fierce fighting Chip about 80 years ago the city seems to be adjusting to life with the German withdrawal. We’ll see what happens...Oh wait Maria sorry to cut you off but it seems that the allies have landed on the beaches of Normandy literally just 78 years ago. We’re gonna keep y’all posted with news and developments as we get them here in the studio....Oh wait! More breaking news out of Berlin, the red army are storming the German reichstag as of April the 5th 1945! Boy this is major news stories arriving out of Europe!

[@fredlance2538]

I have a story I feel I have to share . My dad was a WW2 vet. he was in the 1st armored Division he was in North Africa and Italy . His tank was hit when he was in Italy and it caught fire A lieutenant by the name of Green bailed out the top and gave no help to his crew , my dad did his best to help the crew get out the trap door in the bottom of the tank I think the co driver died in the tank and not sure who all survived . My dad came out the drivers hatch and when he was coming out he he shot some Germans off the roof of a farm house , during the exchange of fire my father was shot and and ran into some olive vineyards and was later picked up by some of the Germans that he was just shooting at . Some of the young Germans wanted to kill my dad because he had killed some of their friends , the older sergeant was in charge and would not let that happen instead he patched him up and gave him some food and wine , after some time he sent the young guys off ans spoke in English to my dad . He asked my dad where are you from , my dad said PA. the sergeant said what part of PA. are you from my dad said Scranton the sergeant said really , what part of Scranton my dad said North Scranton the sergeant then started to name a few local bars and asked my dad if he had ever drank in them my dad said yes I have how the hell do you know them? The sergeant said I am from Bethlehem PA and worked in the steel mills and I was visiting family when the war broke out and was unable to leave and go back to the USA. and was forced to fight . He stayed with my dad and took care of him as long as he could . I had to share this and say even in war some good people show up and do good thing. I hope I was not to long winded . And even during war it is a small and good world.

[@markpaul8178]

Fred,that was a superb story.I wonder what ever happened to the leutientant that ran off?Your father was a good man,that's why the spirit of CHRIST saved him.No doubt about that!!!

[@fredlance2538]

@@markpaul8178 thank you

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Not long winded mate , its good to hear of humanity. Cheers.

[@TheGuitarman52]

Did you dad and the German ever reconnect after the war? Stories like this one are really compelling. My dad was born in Germany and was fluent in German. He move with his parents and sister to New York in 1927 at age 4 and grew up in the US. He became a US citizen and served in the US Navy during WWII on PT boats. He was later deployed to the Philadelphia Navy Yards because the US needed electricians. He was there when German U-boat U-505 was captured by an American destroyer skipper from Chicago. The sub was heavily damaged but the skipper had influencial friends in Chicago and got government funding to restore the German submarine. My father was instrumental in helping the restoration with his fluency in German enabling him to translate the German controls and instrumentation instructions. That submarine was completely restored and is now housed in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. My family has been there and we toured the inside of the boat and read the history. Now we know the end of the story. Too bad my father was not alive to know where the sub ended up and that later we got to see some of his handywork. Wow, what stories there are out there of history and its aftermath!

[@TR-Mead]

Excellent story, I love hearing accounts of the war like that.

[@rwnagel]

My dad had a friend who flew in WW2. He said that at the end of the war the Germans had their jet plane. There was no hope for Germany, but they ordered the jets to attack the American’s anyway. His friend related that a jet had him dead to rights, but didn’t fire. He came along side, waved and flew off. He was a warrior not a killer.

[@johnculver6994]

That's nice, but it is more likely the jet pilot was out of ammo. They didn't have much on board to begin with.

[@thewiseoldherper7047]

@@johnculver6994 beat me to it.

[@zazugee]

@@thewiseoldherper7047 then why he would wave? later in the war, lot of germans started hating hitler and the nazi party for example even the crew of the Bismark didn't surrender but they removed hitler's pictures and didn't salute

[@thewiseoldherper7047]

@@zazugee You could be right. There were documented examples of similar events. But most of the time that wasn’t the case. We will really never know. The jet pilot flying alongside and saluting was a very brave and unusual act either way and worthy of respect.

[@spencermurphy5796]

@@zazugee Most of the Kreigsmarine hated Hitler and the Nazi Party and very few Nazi Party Members close to Hilter's beliefs were allowed to join. Dörnitz himself didn't like Hitler. The Kriegsmarine were critically underfunded and after 1942 were left for dead as their missions to raid Atlantic shipping were becoming suicidal.

[@juddpeterson9100]

Interesting video that hits close to home. Richard "Bud" Peterson was my father. I call this story of his the "Angel of Death Story". To be honest, it's not one of his or my favorites, but it's true. He felt a responsibility as a bomber escort to protect these bomber crews, and as he recounts, when he saw that Me109 pilot individually killing those men in their chutes, it angered him to that action. You could see the anger every time he told that story. Actually, you depict the parachute attacks on the chutes, but in reality, the German was shooting the men themselves as they hung in their chutes. Terrified and helpless against an inevitable doom, waiting as he picked off their friends one by one. One can only imagine the fear of the anticipation of that. In considering the ethics of the story, imagine the relief of those in chutes who were saved and survived. This story was excerpted from a documentary film the producer made of several top aces of the 357th FG. There were several other more memorable stories from Bud that draw a more accurate, full picture of his warm, outgoing personality. For the most part, he was a fun-loving, gregarious, happy-go-lucky fellow with countless friends. He was one of four top aces of the 357th, and the highest scoring ace of the 364th Fighter Squadron. The Chicago Tribune once wrote an article about him entitled "Shepherd of the Skies" explaining how he repeatedly returned to the target area to help damaged bombers return by protecting them from further attack. His favorite story was about bringing his fighter squadron back to Leiston in a fog and landing each and every one of them without any ILS system. He had some extraordinary dogfighting stories too that he often shared with friends at lunch. In reality, my mother was his bride-to-be at home, not yet his wife, when she wrote those letters ending in "Hurry Home Honey". They married in April 1945, just after Bud returned from his second tour of duty. Lastly, there were very few older, veteran fighter pilots in his fighter group. they were all very young...most were just 20 to 23 years old. Bud was 21 when he got his first P-51 in Leiston. They simply learned from themselves as they recounted their experiences after the missions. As they became more experienced and even better fighter pilots, they realized that new, rookie, infill pilots needed to be taught some basics about being a successful fighter pilot after too many of them were shot up in their first few missions when they had no idea what they were doing. Bud developed "Clobber College" calling himself the Dean of this school where the veteran fighter pilots and aces of the 357th would share advice and tips to the new pilots to keep them out of trouble. Take care, thanks for the memories.

[@jrnmadsen2710]

Thank's for your story!!

[@bosoxer4eva]

Wow. Amazing story about your dad. I feel like I would've done exactly the same as him given the circumstances. Wish I could've listened to some of his stories at lunch too. Take care and thanks to your dad for his service!! My dad did 25 in the US Navy!

[@viciousgr82]

You made my cry, you should be very proud of your father.

[@williambrady7135]

Thank You for sharing your Dad's story. My Dad was in Sipan "Army" . He was from a family of 10. My Mom was from a family of 6. Her older brother John was at Omaha beach. The night before D day all were having dinner when he was approached by an officer, it was his and my Mom's brother n law. Uncle John told me this story before he died; how all the men that he fought with thought it was a big deal that an officer would sit down and eat with all the enlisted guys, even if it was his sister's husband. He said that was the last time he ever saw him. He was shot down in his B17 Flying Fortress some time during or just after D day. What My mom's family didn't find out for years is that he had survived the plane being shot down. He was killed in the act of, or after escaping a German prison camp.

[@williambrady7135]

P.s. My Uncle John spent his life in the Army and retired in the 1970s. He told me that he trained on every armored vehicle that we had up until retirement.

[@The_Mimewar]

“And that was the end of that”. A lot to unpack in that simple closing

[@omarestevez8074]

bro i actually got chills when he said that fucking legend

[@robertbishop5357]

I recall a KZbin history lesson regarding this. It was found that one German luftwaffe commander threatened each of his pilots that he would personally shoot anyone who shot down a pilot in his parachute.

[@lordgarion514]

Most higher-ups understand why, morality aside, it's a bad idea to shoot your enemy in their parachutes over your own land. A German bails over England, and dead or alive he's gone for the war. A German bails over German controlled land, and if he lives they get to use him again. Unless they piss the enemy off, and the enemy starts shooting German pilots in their parachutes.

[@kaidanpeckham1939]

If i remember correctly franz stigler was apart of a unit whos commander said if i see or hear of anyone shooting a enemy in there parachute i will personally shoot you my self

[@white-wy6dg]

@@kaidanpeckham1939 Hans Joachim Marseille was also part of that group ,JG27 ,I think. They considered themselves chivalrous honorable warriors . They also only referred to "victories" not Kills ,and would risk flights to allied airfields to drop messages to inform of a downed airmans condition. Very few Luftwaffe guys were Nazis and even though Stigler wanted to avenge his Brothers death ,and earn his knights cross ,his humanity and training won through.

[@ghostcreepzgaming5447]

@@kaidanpeckham1939 Gustav Rödel was the commander

[@MrSupercar55]

That kind of morality doesn’t sound like the Luftwaffe in World War 2. The Third Reich was a notoriously brutal regime of fear, genocide and dominance, predominantly across Europe with Germany as its epicentre. Don’t forget that they were under Adolf Hitler’s command. My apologies if I’m wrong, but such humility doesn’t seem synonymous with the Nazis. I’m only going by what I learned in history class.

[@alexandermartincausey7333]

There was a story of a B-17 that had been so badly damaged it was assumed nobody could have survived inside. Indeed, there were several crew fatalities, but the plane was still being flown by it's badly injured pilot. A 109 came to finish it off, but seeing the state of the aircraft, the pilot elected to signal them to land. He refused. So the German saluted and flew away, leaving the bomber to successfully make it to England. After the war, the bomber pilot lived in Canada and couldn't escape the wondering thought of the man who saved his life. Ended up the German pilot survived the war too, and they met and became great friends. The German said "I had a strict commanding officer who once said 'If I hear of anyone shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself'. After seeing the state of the bomber, I felt like the men inside were in a parachute and I couldn't shoot at them."

[@dragonsknights]

names of Pilots were Charles Brown and Franz Stigler . Just typing here or Googling their names you find their whole story.The German headed the B17 in direction to UK till he was to the end of his autonomy range. Once back he reported he shooted the B17 and she crashed into the sea.. Thanks to other comment it is now possible to give him an identity (see replies to comment posted by Robert bishop)

[@TheIfifi]

Yeah we all know the story. I don’t consider this a warcrime tho. Very well earned.

[@mcfrisko834]

Ye Olde Pub

[@the_retag]

Fly, fighting fair, its the code, of the air. Brothers. Heroes. Foes

[@DJRainbowToxic]

@@the_retag KILLING MACHINE! HUNTER IN THE SKY!

[@Xooberwan]

It's important to document events like this for historical perspective. Kudos to you for taking on the task of communicating such an unpleasant event in WWII history.

[@BenjaminARosso]

I Heard this story when I was young on a documentary on the war over Europe, I was about 14 years old. I'm glad to see the younger generations retelling this story so that it will be remembered.

[@martialmushi918]

"I didn't want him to blow up. I wanted him to bail." Straight savage

[@chrisward4576]

Mincemeat👍

[@billyblackmon4796]

and beautiful

[@Circle912]

Вот хочу Сочи

[@gunner5916]

More savage would have been to shred his parachute with the guns so he fell to his death.

[@Grisostomo06]

@@gunner5916 Yeah, I thought that was what he would do. All the parachutists the German pilot killed were shown falling to their deaths when their parachutes were shredded by bullets. I'm not sure why shooting a defenseless parachutist isn't considered a war crime.

[@MeTube3]

My WW2 grandfather, long since passed lived his life with regret that he had to kill enemy soldiers. He was forever sad about it and used to say how sorry he was. Absolutely no glory in it, just lifelong regret.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Both of my grandfathers fought against each other in WW2. My mom's father for the allies, my dad's fought for the Nazis. It's a horrible price to pay just for fucking politics.

[@terryjohnson8317]

My father and three of my uncles saw combat and none of them ever talked about it. The did their jobs, came home, and got on with their lives

[@adamwsaxe]

@@devilsoffspring5519 It was a lot more than "politics" my friend. In the US we have "politics." People are free to run for office and vote their conscientious. Nazi Germany wanted to take over the world and deny any semblance of liberty to anyone. They started at home in Germany first. Hitler told the world what he wanted to do in Mein Kampf. No, sorry, pal . . . the war between human freedom and Nazi evil is not "politics" like your local city council member's race.

[@georgejackson4424]

War is hell, and always instigated by banksters and corporate oligarchs aka rich cowards .

[@peace-now]

Your grandfather has my deep respect. Audie Murphy always regretted killing German boys. Audie was a true hero too.

[@Allyourbase1990]

I never knew the phrase “ you’re about to meet your maker buddy” could sound so badass and casual at the same time

[@michaelagnew7493]

That was how they were back then, casual and deadly

[@martinrice6541]

Thanks for that superb documentation.

[@pickle4422]

that german pilot must've been like "oh hell, i know what happens next." the second he bailed out of his plane.

[@ElementofKindness]

The chicken shit should have rode it in. Too much a coward for that as well.

[@lagoonrd4173]

He got what was coming

[@Highlander_Red]

North American P-51 Mustang: Bang! Bang! Bang! Vroom! Bang! Bang!

[@RoadHead62]

I have to wonder if he even thought an Allied pilot would do such a thing. Until he saw the plane circle back around. Then I'm sure he filled his flightsuit with stank.

[@ef1884]

@@ElementofKindness got a tough guy here, huh?

[@lemmdus2119]

German pilots would have shot their own for doing that. The Luftwaffe didn’t condone that AT ALL. Thus the story of the 109 helping the B17 to the coast of France

[@Matteo-ks6fn]

Goering himself a (former) war pilot stricly forbade shooting bailing airmen may be for fair play but even for a fair treatment of POW pilots and crews: that BF109 pilot should have shot down by his mates or report him to a firing squad. Prefer former to a Poetic Justice.

[@lemmdus2119]

@@Matteo-ks6fn The pilot of the BF 109 that helped the B17 get back to the coast explained after the war that their squadron’s commanding officer gave them a standing order “Any pilot that takes themselves out of the fight, or hits the silk, you leave them be or I will shoot you myself!” The German pilots considered themselves “knights of the air” and many had Teutonic emblems painted on their planes.

[@Matteo-ks6fn]

@@lemmdus2119 Sense of Honor. True one. Or you just a mugger beating an elderly for a wirstwatch. Simple is that.

[@NickVenture1]

Helping an enemy bomber return to its base is just too much to bear. Even though a helpless enemy soldier who is unarmed shall be given the chance to surrender and become a PoW there is no justification for letting a bomber aircraft with all the guns aboard get away. Especially a heavily armed aircraft that just recently dropped a bomb load most probably on a city. This german pilot got far too sentimental with a distorted view of chivalry or whatever could have been the real motivations behind his action if ever it even occurred which I doubt. It was much more indicated and more according to the rules of honorable engagement that the fighter plane pilot signifies to the enemy bomber crew that they have to lower their altitude in order to surrender with the plane or bail out which would be possible if there are no wounded airman on board. Whatever the condition of the entire crew.. there was at least one pilot steering the plane capable to follow the orders. To surrender! Or continue the fight. Nothing else. Otherwise the enemy bomber must be destroyed. Imagine an American jet pilot getting sentimental when he encounters a bunch of hijackers just missing a tower in New York on board of their aircraft because they took hostile fire.. Should he be so nice to escort them with crocodile tears in his eyes because they only came to kill and got a technical problem on their way? Anybody dropping bombs on cities had forfeited his "right" to return safely to his base if we put ourselves in the shoes of the targeted side. Therefore this German fighter pilot in this supposed to have happened event is rather pathetic and a looser.

[@ChutneyGames]

@@arespredator2759 the plane was disabled, for all purposes the plane was "killed"

[@blues01clue]

Excellent work. I really enjoyed that.

[@shaibalbose9831]

appreciated your excellent presentation ... thank you !!

[@h4ngman]

My Grandfather was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and he had often mentioned that firing on bailed aircrew was seen as an absolute atrocity by pretty much all nations. In general, he had explained that the mentality of the military aviation pilots deviated somewhat from other military branches due to the fact that many of them had been drafted from civilian aviation which was already a sort of an elite in-group. It was much more acceptable to be critical of the regime or even of the war itself since good pilots were hard to come by and air combat was so deadly, it was hard to be patriotic about it. They would meet new faces each day and by the evening half of them would be dead already. He would tell me stories of surprising kindness, pilots visiting their downed adversaries with flowers and gifts in the hospital and other acts of comradery among enemy nations. Interestingly, he always made special mention of the Australian air force as being infamous for shooting at parachutes. He even had a thing or two to say about a few famous German fighter aces who pulled strings in order to be allowed to repeatedly fly superior model 109s on missions against vastly inferior russian planes and just down a bunch of them in order to accumulate ridiculous numbers of confirmed kills.

[@ChuckTownRC51]

They were also torturing and killing 6 million innocent jews so I'm thinking killing aircrew in chutes wasn't all that hard for them.

[@nethascotx24]

@@ChuckTownRC51 that was the Nazis. There is a difference, it's like saying that the US Soldiers are Republican or Democrat. It was also generally the SS in charge of the camps, not rank and file German army. Please learn the difference before making an uneducated comment

[@Klaus_Fischer]

@@ChuckTownRC51 Well yes the nazi's did that, but not all Germans were nazi's Jimbo

[@timmorin6657]

@@ChuckTownRC51 if they where like you I think it had to be done.

[@MrNicoJac]

What you describe was also partially at play in the navies (well, except for Japan, as always). My theory is that it's due to having a shared enemy. Pilots are not just combating each other, but also gravity itself (and possibly their plane, if badly maintained due to shortages of parts). For sailors, the sea can be more deadly and relentless than the enemy. This is why you often saw enemy ships save their own victims, or at least attempt to. In that sense, if some bigger outside force reminds everyone of their shared humanity, war crimes become less prevalent. Anyhow, thanks for sharing! :)

[@AllenMacCannell]

Another big reason not to do this was because you'd be vulnerable to other enemy fighters who'd definitely give you karma when they made you bail

[@Bacanalable]

"karma" it´s senseless from beauty saloon magazines...

[@warhammer1]

@@Bacanalable Karma is from Hinduism and Buddhism, religions that've been around thousands of years longer than Christianity.

[@Bacanalable]

@@warhammer1 Bddhism it´s not a religion, in fact it hasn´t gods...but it´s the same senseless.

[@krikeydial3430]

The CG doesn't quite do the story justice. I wanted to see the dude explode from 6 .50 caliber guns lighting him up.

[@shamrockshore6308]

@@Bacanalable A religion doesn't have to have gods. Buddhism is a religion.

[@bobp5356]

What an awesome story. WW2 soldiers were incredible men. God bless them all.

[@zach11241]

Hitler was also a soldier. Should god bless him too?

[@andynorthern6191]

Thank you for your service Pete!!!

[@mysticdragonwolf89]

My grandpa had a situation where he and a scout patrol were on a boat. Everyone was near the engine to keep warm - my grandpa sat on the edge, as he had heard of possible mines and had told his fellows such They hit a mine. 3/4 of the patrol were killed instantly, my grandpa nearly was drowned as he got hit with the severed body of his officer He managed to drag himself and this officer (who was still alive) to shore He was then attacked by a German patrol, killing the officer, forcing my grandpa to use his body as a sandbag as he returned fire He got captured, a German flanking him and trying to disable him instead of killing him When he came to he was bound, his wounds bandaged. The same German standing between him and other soldiers In the exchange of fire, my grandpa had hit some of the German patrol - killing 1-2 while wounding a few others This German, a sergeant or an officer, said roughly “Kill a captured PoW and I will personally kill you myself, we are not Nazis. He fought as we fight. His fight is done.” Later that German patrol was ambushed and everyone got killed but this German who got wounded. My grandpa did the same for him, protecting him and tending to his wounds - after the war they both became friends who visited each other My grandpa said he was the brave and threw one hell of a punch

[@thatonekidfromcalifornia]

That is an amazing story

[@johncapaldi7890]

Your Grandfather and the German were honorable soldiers respectful of the rules of war which is kind of an oxymoron but have proved that they could be fighting soldiers for their country but not animals! Wonderful story!

[@spvillano]

@@johncapaldi7890 it's only an oxymoron until you've fought in a war bereft of them from one side. Although, it wasn't quite incumbent upon the other side, as they were non-uniformed and non-military, so were unlawful combatants. The Geneva Conventions have strict requirements on what is permitted and required. One may only kill a prisoner in an authorized reprisal for war crimes committed by those same forces. So, when SS were gunned down, rather than being taken prisoner in France during WWII, it was because it was discovered that the Waffen SS was killing Allied prisoners of war. But, that decision is normally made by Generals, not junior commissioned like Majors. In this case, the Geneva Convention that covered parachuting air crew was approved in 1977, but practiced through most of WWII by Germany and the US until late in the war, when Hitler ordered parachuting crews shot on their parachutes, despite the gentlemen's agreement and the general staff objected that it was literally murder. In the GWOT, the other side's combatants refused to abide by either the Geneva or Hague Conventions, but we were ordered to abide by them. Interestingly, a surprising number of captured EPW's then bragged about upcoming operations that'll "make you pay". Miranda isn't in any of the articles of war, so we took notes and reported them up, to intercept the idiot's buddies. Hey, the smart terrorists are the bosses, that's how they became bosses, by surviving. The rest, not exceptionally bright, but certainly enthusiastic, buying the entire abuse of religious leader's line, hook, line and sinker. Never interrupt an adversary when he's making a mistake. Sun Tzu.

[@picklesusa3449]

Kinda interesting he said we are not Nazis. It makes me feel bad for the German soldiers during the war. They were off fighting and dying while their government and private army was off killing innocent people.

[@johnshields9110]

A good number of the German soldiers were professional soldiers. In my old time farming community, one fellow was a despondant hero from WWII who was in a 'fight to the last man' situation; only he and a medic survived. He was part of a group holding a forward viewing post and the Germans were determined to take them out. After a bloody rancous fire fight, they sent in a half track to ram into the house and finish him off. He was a BAR carrier, and the last one firing; hearing and seeing the half track he crawled out into some bushes and ambushed it at hand shake distance. He had two clips of heavy Blacktip AP rounds, which he shot the driver through a view slit, then the top machine gunner, reloaded and put his last clip through the full side of the thing, killing everyone in it. He was shot again doing this action, and throw back in the house with the Medic as the Germans took over the house; they took all his papers, including the two Bibles he carried with him, but later returned them as they gave him aide. The German commander had seen his braverly, and told all about that he was Ein Soldat (a real soldier). Other senior soldiers came in to meet him, as an honor, for his selfless fighting spirit and bravery. As he was passed down the line as a prisoner, his guard would point him out to others that had heard about his fight, murmmering, he is the Ein Soldat!

[@kenwinterstein2305]

This brutal practice was more prevalent, I believe, among Japanese pilots in the Pacific Theater.....though all sides were probably guilty of it at times. A lot of pilots that bailed out recount that they delayed opening chutes until closer to the ground because of this.

[@DamazViccar]

Australians were notorious for it, too. Must be that Pacific air to blame.

[@brad506th]

@@DamazViccar Nah, just war is hell. Going through that shared experience, a man tends to get real close to his squad mates. Then after some assbag smears one or two of them, the line between duty and war crime starts to get really blurry. Not excusing war crimes but I can understand what goes through a man's mind when he drops hammer on a EPW.

[@fighter5583]

Given how the Japanese made it habitual to slaughter civilians...

[@richardgreen7811]

On the Doolittle Raid ... several B25's ran out of fuel before landfall and had to ditch in the water. Not that all survived, and not that all the survivors were mistreated, but three of the survivors were pulled from the sea by a destroyer's launch then taken to the destroyer. The three surviving crew members were immediately questioned while on deck. Each only gave their name, rank, and serial number. The ship's Captain said "you have attacked our country and killed many people". The leader of the group responded "We lost a lot of friends at Pearl Harbor". The Captain of the ship ordered a section of anchor chain (+/- 30lbs) attached to their legs and threw them overboard. In SE Asia (1969) I saw the results of what the enemy did to our soldiers. I also watched what our soldiers did to them. It's not something to speak of ... but it happens in WAR.

[@christianorr1059]

Yes, the Japanese pilots were infamous for the practice.

[@ricosantos5695]

Thank you for your service sir

[@henryc1000]

One of the absolute best war stories on KZbin 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@moistmike4150]

Western pilots - German, Russian and Allied generally avoided killing defenseless adversaries in their parachutes. The exception in WW2 though were the Japanese. They ruthlessly slew bailed out pilots when they got the chance.

[@Whitpusmc]

There was not a universal agreement on shooting down airmen in parachutes. The British command during the BOB understood (not necessarily happy) that their airmen parachuting back to the ground fighting over England were sometimes considered valid targets by some Luftwaffe pilots as they could land and be back to their squadrons in hours while Luftwaffe pilots in parachutes were going to be captured. The roles reversed over Germany and while I’m not aware of US pilots targeting Luftwaffe pilots in parachutes in anything more than a specific instance, the same logic could be used as some Luftwaffe pilots survived multiple shoot downs yet continued to fight. Rules in warfare tend to get murky quickly.

[@piosian4196]

On Dec 12, '41 all planes were shot on the ground P-40's and B-17's. A small contingent of ancient Boeing Peashooters, Philippine Air Force, 24 in all, 12 flyable but only 6 were armed and fueled. Capt Jesus Villamor flew, shot down a Zero and a GM3 His wingman Lt. Basa got a Zero but was shot down himself. He bailed out but was shot on parachute. The defenders had to rush to base and burn all remaining planes as the Japanese were advancing fast. He got a DFC but O'Hare on the other side of the world got a MOH.

[@jimm6095]

Russian (Soviets) are/were not "western pilots"! Russian, Polish, Japanese and American pilots are recorded as shooting at enemy aircrew in parachutes!

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

The Japanese fighter pilots in 1942 New Guinea wore no parachutes, due to shortage. By the way they considered rescue equipment of any kind as signs of cowardice. So since they could not survive, why let their enemies do ? This was their samurai-banzai-hara-kiri-seppuku-whatever logic.

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

@@Whitpusmc Trying some ordering of chaos.

[@donaldwilliamfry]

My dad was a WWII veteran who had taken several prisoners through the war. They treated the Wehrmacht prisoners well. The one group that was less likely to be taken prisoner were the SS following the Malmedy massacre. This German pilot that was killed was about the same as those SS. Dad survived 3 major campaigns including the Bulge and just died last year at 95. This was an amazing generation and there are very few still with us.

[@robmorris7128]

My mums US WW2 Paratrooper Boyfriend in London was in D-Day/Battle of the Bulge etc. I found him in 2015. He came to Australia and they had Valentines Day together. 😱😊

[@philipnestor5034]

Men like your dad are part of the Greatest Generation . They saved us.

[@thomasr3805]

My NY city grandfather ended up as a horseback POW patrolman in Texas. It was labor but they were certainly treated well.

[@michaelwhisman]

The Mamady massacre was in retaliation of the women and children burned alive in German cities.

[@donaldwilliamfry]

@@michaelwhisman R-r-r-r-ight.

[@ranhat2]

First class video! Not phoneyed up, clearly video, but as excellent as real thing--maybe better in some ways. Bravo.

[@user-j4200]

Thank you sir for your service. RIP.

[@marvinm.messier1120]

My English grandma told me she was working on her dairy farm one day in the early 40's when a RAF / Luffewaffe dogfight happened near her in the skies. She watched them shoot at each other for a while, but then kept doing farm work like any other day. She eventually heard some planes hit the ground a ways away - but the thing she'll never forget - a parachute landed at the next door neighbour's field - said the RAF pilot was motionless and had no body below the chest other than ribs, bones and blood. Could you imagine seeing that? Neighbours cleaned it up by burning the remains on the spot where he landed. RIP Lest We Forget

[@TheOneHandedCooksman]

Can i imagine seeing that? >.> oh no no, i've seen much worse 😂

[@user-itschad1954]

@@TheOneHandedCooksman I think he means from his grandmothers prospective. All active servicemen have witnessed such.

[@jedhillbilly812]

@@user-itschad1954 War aint kind, or pretty.

[@user-itschad1954]

Get away, you're kidding aren't you.

[@twangshanty9559]

You do know we American patriots will be going to war against Britain soon, don't you.

[@squidmissile1747]

His telling of it gave me goosebumps

[@OriginalKKB]

Thats what happens when you listen to a Warcriminalwho proudly recalls his deeds.

[@squidmissile1747]

First, you misspelled war hero. Secondly shooting bailed out crew was not made illegal until after the war in 49. Thirdly, you're defending the killing of a Nazi. I'll bet you thought Kyle was guilty as well. Piss off commie.

[@mikewright8033]

Damn straight buddy, thank you!!! My dad was in the old army air corps, bless your soul. I know you didn't want to do that but you were chosen to exact justice for our helpless guys. Rest my friend. Rest.

[@donjorge8329]

If this is your point of view, then you are disgusting.

[@paulodelacruz8899]

You hated what german pilot did to american pilot but praising the american pilot who did the same thing.?😂😂😂

[@chucks_88]

I think this P51 pilot was no better than the German pilot.

[@best_pilot1002]

An asshole this US pilot was !

[@anthonyscott5134]

Not just justice, but also to save the lives of other pilots as this guy would have surely been given another plane to fly and would most certainly continue his murderous campaign against American pilots in chutes.

[@thomaskeith7979]

"You've met your maker buster" Minnesota quotes

[@johnfarrell5075]

murdering an unarmed pilot well done great american hero!!!! yanks are biggest warmongers in the world

[@dereksaunders4462]

Fair play!

[@Fiberglass_Insulation]

Huh?

[@MVuke84]

An American quote

[@donaldcorley9363]

@@johnfarrell5075 yea after said unarmed pilot mowed down countless American pilots in the same exact way. Please pull your head out of your a**

[@chrisbroguiere3593]

I don't know how long ago they interviewed this gentleman but he still looks like he can jump in a P-51 and still take down enemy planes.

[@the13thdukeofwybourne77]

Died in 2000 aged 77

[@chrisbroguiere3593]

@@the13thdukeofwybourne77 God speed to him.

[@lordclancharlie1325]

true

[@gerardfrederick5504]

You just don´t get it, do you? That guy was a murderer, no more, no less.

[@warhammer1]

@@gerardfrederick5504 Yes, but context matters, he's a murderer who killed a man whom he and others witnessed murdering several of their defenseless fellow airmen. Would you have just let the guy continue to shoot down defenseless bomber crew?

[@tekki2060]

Great video!!!

[@HAL-vu8ef]

My grandfather was a British Artillery Gunner for the full length of the war. When it was over he wouldn’t talk to me about it and he never went to any parades or memorials. He didn’t want his medals so my mum secretly applied for them to give to me. When they arrived he saw them, grabbed them and threw them in the kitchen bin and shouted “They are nothing to be proud of, we did some terrible, evil things!” He died of alcoholism when I was 9. I asked my grandma what happened to him, she just said”I do know, let’s just say neither side was innocent”.

[@mace8873]

Most of them had no choice, and I as a Dane am ever thankful for those who helped liberate my country from the Nazi scourge, had they not done so, things would have been a _lot_ worse for all of us in the occupied countries. I'm sorry to hear your grandfather ended up the way he did, clearly he must've been a good man, if what he saw and had to do drove him to the bottle. My own grandfather was involved in the resistance movement, and although he wasn't in one of the "liquidation" groups taking care of collaborators, I think the war broke something inside him, he never spoke of his experiences, but I know from other sources that he was a ship torcher.

[@Luis-bo2uj]

danes, they did shit through the war and then enjoyed themselves sending german kids to their death cleaning mines barehanded

[@guillermosanmartin163]

"We did some terrible, evil things" Like Operation Gomorra and Operation Thunderclap, for example...

[@tc6818]

Then there's the WWII story of Owen John Baggett, the only person to shoot down a plane with a handgun -- from a parachute. Owen and his crew had bailed out of their badly damaged, burning B24 and was floating down over Berma . Japanese Zeros were shooting the men in their parachutes. They killed two of his crew and Owen was shot in the arm. Still in his harness, Baggett thought it best to play dead, hoping to fool the Japanese fighters. However, he pulled his .45 caliber gun out of its holster and rested it against the side of his leg. This quick-thinking would save his life. One of the Japanese fighters came back to double check that Baggett was really dead. But in the process, the enemy pilot made a fatal mistake: he opened his canopy to take a better look. That’s when Owen raised his pistol and took four shots at the Japanese pilot. The pilot had slowed the plane to near stalling speed to look at Baggett, and now it went into a spin before it was lost to sight. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjQZIZ-mdGVb8k

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Yes, I know of this. That's some serious badass rambo stuff that if put in a film would not be believed

[@MainMite06]

6:58 *"With 800 rounds a minute you can do alot of damage with 50 caliber shells from 6 guns"* 🤭savage level 100%!

[@douglaswee129]

Thus, the minced meat.

[@blueluny]

That's why he should have shot the parachute. Made the prick suffer longer

[@timminh468]

@@blueluny , you need to put aside war-hatre, even most soldiers believes in fair fight. You had a fair fight so no hate here. If you want to hate then hate snipers because they don't do fair fights. grow up

[@volkssturmer5820]

A beast of a war criminal. Not better than the german foe. A pair of butchers.

[@nickyl9040]

Facts are facts One important fact about fighting an airwar is that airplanes are much easier to replace than experienced pilots are

[@MetroplexAerials]

My father's old boss was a WWII veteran, fellow architect, and good friend of "Bud" Peterson, and I heard this story from him. Terrible thing, but just.

[@Mgrzely]

"So that was the end of that" Exactly sir.

[@Warmaker01]

I remember hearing of this somewhere as it stirred some controversy even in the Luftwaffe. As said in the video, both sides left downed aviators alone. That's it, they were out of the fight. This incident invited a never ending series of reprisals. Some Luftwaffe pilots wanted to do the same but one of the higher ranking officers threatened he'd shoot anyone that attack a man in a parachute. This whole event was pretty much an aberration compared to the rest of the air war conduct between the Axis and Western Allies.

[@tavish4699]

did you watch an interview of a ex luftwaffe pilot by any chance? what you describe is just what ive seen

[@selfdo]

I'd be surprised that Luftwaffe pilot wouldn't have been court-martialed for shooting down US bomber crew in their 'chutes. It wasn't just chivalry...the US pilots/crew were more than likely, if they weren't badly wounded already and going to die, to end up in a POW camp. The war for THEM was over. If a German pilot had to bail from his stricken plan over German-held territory, provided he wasn't also wounded, he was back in the fight. Quite a few LW pilots did sortie that very day after being shot down...talk about "Get BACK on the HORSE!".

[@markgoz4118]

German bandits from the Luftwaffe very often and willingly shot at the Allied airmen who were rescuing themselves by parachuting. They were equally eager to attack and kill civilians on earth from 1939 to 1945. Currently, there is a media campaign presenting the Germans as the first victims of Hitler, while over 90% of Germans were hot Nazis. You have to REMEMBER about it

[@Bjoern211]

@@markgoz4118 the most of the german forces were not nazis. German forces got hard rules. rape or torture or kill civilians was often ending in front of an firing squad. And Luftwaffe attacked mostly war legal targets. if your city has 1 factory which produced war material, the complete city was a legal war target. the regular german forces did not more crimes than the allies or russians.

[@tavish4699]

@@markgoz4118 so ? Where exactly do those claims of 90 percent come from ? Is that a scientific fact or just a blant statement by somebody that clearly has anti german Sentiment ? Hitler was voted in with 51 percent And only because there was nothing better to vote for at the time

[@BlueBadSyk]

😮! La guerra es la guerra! Buen vídeo!!!

[@mikeharper4021]

Thank you Bud, your a real hero 👏

[@daleburrell6273]

I saw another video by this same pilot, where he described the very first time he shot down a German airplane: the German pilot bailed out, apparently unharmed, Mr. Peterson remembered seeing the German pilot drifting past him in his parachute, and the German pilot saluted Mr. Peterson. ...AND NO, MR. PETERSON DIDN'T SHOOT AT THE GERMAN PILOT-(!)

[@juddpeterson9100]

Yes, that story was part of the same documentary and was one of his more favorite stories, unlike this parachute story. I am his son. It was the first of many enemy aircraft Bud shot down (he was a triple ace). He was quite thrilled to have won that first encounter as he watched the German pilot bail out and fly by the right side of his P-51. He said the German was wearing an immaculate, powder blue uniform with shiny, knee-high boots, and a white silk scarf around his neck. He said the German stood at attention, saluted him, and pulled his ripcord. Bud got a big kick out of that salute, and said it seemed so gallant and respectful. Perhaps it was a ploy to avoid being chased and shot, but Bud believed it was an honest gesture and returned the respect.

[@daleburrell6273]

@@juddpeterson9100 ...and he mentioned that the German pilot was wearing gauntlets-(!)

[@jackkillian9581]

That puts a whole new meaning to "personally I wouldn't let that slide"

[@austininmon8064]

As he should. Disrespect your enemy and expect it returned.

[@HellenicWolf]

great work

[@VistavisionMike]

FYI: Really bad, bad things happen in wars. That's why should be avoided. About 20 years ago I had the chance to ask a lot of WWII veterans about their experiences and everyone of them at the end said it should never happen again.

[@anthonycaruso8443]

That is nice, but welcome to the real world

[@echo-channel77]

We also have no idea what was going on in the mind of the German pilot, if he was just a fanatic out to out hitler hitler, then he dang sure got what he deserved. But by the time P-51Ds were escorting, this was late war and the bombing was killing a LOT of civilians. How would any of us reacted if during the past couple of days we learned our mother, father, little brother and sister, and another teen sibling had been completely wiped out in a bombing raid and burned to ashes? That takes a sharp left turn from cold-blooded killer and into the fog of war just as the P-51 pilot did. This is why war is heII, never goes the way people think as they tend to see it almost like a sports game at first, and the outcome is far from certain.

[@chucks_88]

FYI: No shit? Bad things happen in war? I had no freaking clue. 🤣😂

[@KHAKHOLREMOVALSERVICES666]

Oh really these idiots die in war wow I never would've thunk it!

[@mcfrisko834]

@@anthonycaruso8443Don't be a douche

[@cpob1688]

Great video, and very well researched. Well done, and thank you for this rare story.

[@nolisandigan8552]

Thank you sir👍

[@Lochlann13]

"With 800 rounds a minute, you can do a lot of damage with 50 caliber shells...from six guns. So that was the end of that" What an absolute badass.

[@nomaambundy9989]

The video shows a dead German in a parachute near the ground. 50. Caliber in real life is an extremely destructive round, and it probably didn't leave much to float down in a parachute. War is hell.

[@90sjedi]

He probably exploded and just the parachute with some remaining matter simply fell the rest of the way.

[@dekoldrick]

Probably nothing left but a bloodied parachute and what ever pieces of flesh are left.

[@hooparom7430]

@@kilomomoangel8467 the rounds from 50 cals are still insane, hell mg42 rounds in d day cut people in half

[@cunninguncle208akaanutlapu7]

@@dekoldrick Fnny how you think a human body would be a blown up but a piece of cloth or whatever you make paraschutes out of that probably weighed less a kilo would survive it

[@dekoldrick]

@@cunninguncle208akaanutlapu7 If he was shooting at the body and not the parachute. If the pilots account of the incident is enough to go off of, he's good at putting his shots at where he wants them seeing as he wasn't trying to kill the German pilot in his plane but force him to bail so he could exact revenge.

[@joeyoung4121]

"The whole nine yards" is the full amount of bullets a 50 caliber gun had in the wings.

[@logical128]

That is true, but the saying itself predates even ww1. Then again I like this explanation of the saying much more even if it wasn’t the original meaning.

[@PauloPereira-jj4jv]

It's a myth.

[@jbardolf2805]

@Ben Mendolz If you think that's bad, just wait until you hear what the Germans and Japanese did

[@4TheFellas]

@Ben Mendolz Horrible and necessary.

[@AKK5I]

"They sowed the wind, so now they shall reap the whirlwind"

[@born2fly1948]

Great story, thanks.

[@DAY8293A]

This German pilot was out of the ordinary, as the German Pilots held themselves to a higher standard and weren't as rotten as some of the ground troops could be. He was lucky other German pilots didn't see what he was doing, or they may have gone after him themselves. Glad this guy took care of business and served him instant justice!

[@milkeywhey2998]

They did not, it was common practice to attack civilian columns 1939 Poland and shooting at parashoots

[@monkeyanimationandgaming]

@@milkeywhey2998 both sides did that

[@monkeyanimationandgaming]

like, both sides brutally murdered civilians

[@texasforever7887]

The reason many people have this perception of the German pilots is because most of their records were kept in Dresden which had a fire problem and so we're all destroyed. Therefore after the war when members of the other branches were put up on trial there wasn't enough evidence to put the pilots on trial. Also the experience very high casualty rates by the end of the war. Very few survived to see the end of it. There is unofficial accounts of some pretty heinous acts such as on their free time volunteering to go out with SS battalions in the rear and participate in those activities.

[@smcc3958]

What a rotten business war is

[@kinkane5566]

"With 800 rounds a minute you can do a lot of damage with fifty caliber shells - from six guns. So that was the end of THAT." Sometimes you gotta take the gloves off, I love this man.

[@magicalpieceofpugtato8359]

Me too. He did good!

[@coryCuc]

Absolutely!

[@tobiasbrandt6840]

No, I can't respect a man like that. What happens next in such actions, a German pilot only sees that his comrade was shot on parachute and avenges this next time by shooting American or British crews who want to save themselves on parachute and thus got the spiral of violence and all because he wanted to take revenge instead of just shooting him down and thereby probably killing him too

[@Ghreinos]

@@tobiasbrandt6840 Also the thing he said that nobody would shoot parachuters including the Germans is false. Also the Allies shoot down parachuters at first, in the battle of crete.

[@Ghreinos]

@@sasquatch668able Also my comments always get deleted, so when you don't see my reply with all the sources just write me or search yourself.

[@tutankhamunwhite665]

RIP Mr . Peterson and thank u for being courageous 🙏🏽

[@mjleger4555]

It is rather difficult to read about an incident like the above, but it was WAR and those things really happened! I have read so many incredible stories of incidents that happened during WWII and then later wars. I don't know why, but I really like those war stories, even if some of them are difficult to watch; I know the TV programs I see or those great old WWII movies, or "Tour of Duty'" and 'Combat" and "Twelve O'Clock High are only TV scripts but they do represent what was real at one time and the stories are both interesting and some are heart-rending! And I know some of the footage was real!

[@kevinh5349]

My father was the nose gunner on a B-24 shot down over Hungary. The peasants were going to run him through with pitchforks, a Hungarian soldier got there in time and took him prisoner. Spent 11 months in a Stalagluft.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

Yeah they still do that not matter, if your American, German but especially if your Romanian,

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

That was pretty common. You had a lot of civilians that were killed in the bombing. Their friends and relatives sometimes hated the air crew and would kill them if they caught them. The German military people took care of prisoners so that the enemy would do the same with theirs - except for the SS. The result of that - was that very few SS were allowed to surrender. .

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

@@BobSmith-dk8nw The thing is most people are in the agreement that bomber crews should be tried for compliance to war crimes, with infantrymen, tankers, fighter pilots and naval fighter-dive bombers, battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers & submarines, it should always be combatant vs combatant,

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

@@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723 _"most people are in the agreement that bomber crews should be tried for compliance to war crimes"_ Bull Shit. They only think that the people who have bombed THEM should be tried as war criminals. They've no problem with their people who have bombed Civilians. The thing is - in all the wars there have ever been - there have always been more civilians killed than soldiers. Civilians are defenseless - and - they are everywhere. Even nations that go to extreme lengths to avoid "collateral damage" kill them. People who think like you are just being silly. .

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

@@BobSmith-dk8nw Infrastructures can be rebuilt people no so much, we can just breed on command, and hopefully, the next generation will be more advanced, I look at things at how much will do damage, in the long run, war is not the failure of diplomacy, its another form of it, the worst one possible, Look at it another way, unrestricted submarine warfare is another form of terror style warfare, crop-killing another, public anarchy generation another, public water source sabotage another, communication destruction another, If in theory, you could take out the heads of nations with a precise mile strike that is non-nuclear then yes, will there be civilians casualties, yes but would it save countless others from needing to be slaughtered the use of the Atom bomb was case in point for that time,

[@Eyes-of-Horus]

The Japanese pilots were well known for going after men in their parachutes. That really angered many western fighter pilots who considered it to be totally unethical.

[@tyhawkins7757]

My dad would say the Japanese pilots would not even wast the amo and just use the prop of plan to cut the parachutes

[@danilo16410]

As unethical was the massive bombing of unarmed civilians in cities.

[@sebsub6111]

@@danilo16410 Pearl harbour, comfort women, unit 731, rape of nanking, compared to bombing cities, that compared is nothing

[@jdlamb4212]

@@sebsub6111 it obviously isn't "nothing". Hundreds of thousands of people, many of course women and children, being burned alive...so much that the bomber crews and equipment held the smell of burned human flesh after they returned. Comparing things like this isn't very useful though. But it certainly isn't nothing.

[@danilo16410]

@@sebsub6111 They was all the same, killing civilians, rape of Nanking, death camps, all the same category, gassing people in the camps in Poland and Germany was nothing more than murdering people with radiations.

[@briansmith8950]

Justice served. R.I.P. Major.

[@imtoys23]

Great storie, do more Korean War videos about F-51's... F-86's... Skyraiders, etc....

[@Sh9168]

The purpose of air combat was to destroy the plane. It was considered poor form to shoot a pilot in his chute. It still is to this day.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Sort of. If the pilot survives, he's going to be back with a vengeance. It's just that no side involved wanted the enemy doing the same thing to them, so it was often looked down upon as bad etiquette.

[@basedhalo]

During the invasion of Poland at the start of ww2 German pilots often shot at bailing Polish pilots (possibly because some of them belived that Slavic people were sub humans.) Later in the battle of Britain, polish squadrons had most air kills, some people believe that it was because they were aiming at the cockpits of German bombers with intention to kill the pilots whereas British pilots aimed to disable planes. And a plane with smoking engine can make it back across the channel, with dead pilot not so much.

[@jackielarsen7862]

Fighter pilots have respect for each other. They don't shoot people, they shoot aircrafts. A fighter pilot without his plane, slowly parachuting down to the ground, is nothing more than a civilian at that point

[@mihirshetye4624]

Yup,but that will only apply when you do follow the rules and have some ethics or dont get too angry.

[@TheFunkhouser]

My Great uncle fought In the desert campaign with the 8th Army Desert Rats as an AT Gunner. Almost right through, 41 to 45. They still had to go on nightly combat patrols though. On one such patrol they were walking past along an old desert stone wall, about waist height when they saw another patrol heading the opposite way along the other side of the same wall. My uncles OC (Officer Commanding) that evening just thought it to be another allied recon and didnt pay them much attention, accept a usual nod and brief hello, the other party leader did the same.. But my uncle, Sgt Harold Norton was suspicious and as the last guy on the other side of the wall was passing him (he was tail end) they stared at each other and it became apparent they were 'enemies' it was a German Afrika korps patrol. My uncle said they just stared at each other, slowing their walk in shock, then nodded at each other, smiled and carried on. Nothing happened and my uncles patrol got back with no drama's he said haha, omg :)) I will never forget this, what he told me! I was just 12 when he did but is as clear as today. Just goes to show there was humanity even in the worst times. Bless them!

[@drstrangelove4998]

TF: my friends dad was fighting in Italy and tells a similar story on patrol. His group arrived at the southern end of an orchard, the same time the germans arrived at the north gate. They both circulated around the inner perimeter until the got back to where they started, halted and waved at each other and carried on.

[@TheFunkhouser]

@@drstrangelove4998 YES, Harold said it was near an orchard as well. Imagine if it was the same occurrence! How spiny would that be ! :))) xo

[@ericawollmuth5055]

A story straight out of the D-Day movie.

[@Rustebadge]

@@drstrangelove4998 From the movie D-Day.

[@richardgreen7811]

You're going to get all kinds of responses to your comment. I can't speak for WWII, but I can tell you that in SE Asia (1969) there were many "Phantom Patrols" where a platoon or a squad would be ordered to a particular map point for recon. The squad or platoon leader would simply go out of eye sight of the base and "hunker" for a few hours then report back. The only method of tracking was eye sight (not practical) and the RTO (radio telephone operator) who would call in occasionally. Today, you can't get away with that. The RTO (if they're still called that) has a tracking device attached. Base knows where you are all the time.

[@mrtruecommenter10000]

Thanks to all the below comments the reverence for you that you have for your loved ones is well well given and well taken they were wonderful they saved our butts we are here because of their bravery I'll read every single story I get emotional reading them because those people did so much for us and so little is said about some of these guys but in my heart every one of those guys is Heroes thanks for sharing your loved ones stories they're wonderful and it gives them life after death

[@godiskungen27]

Well Done

[@63bplumb]

"When you look over and see your friend that you were just talking to is Nothing but goo YOU'LL know what to do!" Patton

[@dieselyeti]

Close - "When you put your hand into a bunch of goo that a moment before was your best friend's face, you'll know what to do"

[@joehinojosa8030]

That's WHY you're called " OL BLOOD AND GUTS".

[@63bplumb]

@@dieselyeti It was the motivation for killing that I was trying to convey

[@Thoreaue]

@@joehinojosa8030 or as GIs would say Our blood his guts

[@knightatthecrossroads222]

"No bullets fly" by Sabaton.......

[@leonbarker7195]

My father was an RAAF pilot but served with the RAF 66 squadron during WW 2. William Coombes Barker It was as my father described it an odd ball squadron made up of NZ Australian Canadian pilots. He once told me of a New Zealand pilot in his squadron whom was shot down then baild out an was strafed by a German plane. Never saw dad so upset telling me this story. I can now understand this American pilots fury as well this story reminded me of my father's experience. Thanks for sharing.👍👍👍👌👌

[@peace-now]

We New Zealanders had a hard time. My dad showed me his class photo. There were 45 in his class. Only 8 survived until 1945. 9 died in the Battle of Britain.

[@AIJimmybad]

​@@peace-nowI read a story of a NZ soldier being raped by a Turkish officer in WW1 after being taken prisoner at Gallipoli.

[@fishbed_]

I do this all the time in il2. Its satisfying

[@-.Steven]

Sad story! For the most part, German pilots were gentlemen. Another post mentioned the story of American B17 pilot Charlie Brown, and German Ace Franz Stigler. There is a great book, A Higher Call, that details their chance encounter over the skies of Germany. I own a copy of the book, and highly recommend one read it. Another great book, Combat Crew, by John Comer, details his 30+ missions as a B17 top turret gunner, and I think radioman duty went with that, if I recall correctly. Anyway, John mentions in his book how a formation of B17's "allowed" a German pilot to fly right through their formation without firing a shot; I think he said they were all simply amazed at this German pilots bravery, so they spared that German. This was the same day (and I believe the same raid on Schweinfurt) 12/20/1943, that Franz spared the B17 piloted by Charlie Brown. Sometimes there was honor in the skies. By the way, a quick internet search of WWII Aces will reveal that 99 of the top 100 are all German. Lastly, the book, A Higher Call even tells the story of a German Ace, that rescued American and allied pilots from a concentration camp, the Ace got them out, and to a regular prison camp for airmen, no doubt saving several lives.

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Great story to start the new title, especially has I hadn't heard of this guy. I don't think the German pilot would've been popular with his own Staffel either. It was not approved of by any of the combatants in Europe.

[@norrinradd3549]

You couldn’t be any more wrong, because the killing of bailed out pilots on both sides, was in the words of those in charge, at the end of the war, “quite widespread”..!..!..!.. So, while it had been suggested before the Second World War, that should make it illegal to kill pilots and crew who jumped to save their lives, this wasn’t actually made a law, until 1947/9 ish..!..!..!.. And, during the Battle of Britain, the allied forces leaders(Dowding and Churchill), actually agreed, that they would not prosecute nazi pilots, who shot allied pilots(British, Polish, Dutch, Canadian, Kiwi’s, Indians, Ausi’s, Israeli’s etc etc etc) in their parachutes, because they were going to be carrying on the fight once they landed..!..!..!.. Unlike the nazi pilots, who having bailed out over the UK, who would actually be POW’s, as soon as they left their aircraft’s..!..!..!.. And, they had this, and later conversations about this issue, because it was as they said “quite widespread”, which led to the law being made after the war was finished, which is why no pilot was found guilty the war crime, of shooting a pilot that had bailed out..!..!..!.. This all means, that it was something that each pilot decided on, on their own, because there were nazis like Galland, who told Goering that he would refuse to follow such an order, if it was given..!..!..!.. The largest group of allied pilots, (who took part in the defeat of the Luftwaffe, which didn’t include the USAAF, because they were not involved in the Battle of Britain, just in the mopping up of the Luftwaffe, after they were defeated/beaten for the first time) who would gleefully shoot every nazi pilot, that was in the air, that they could, no matter what the circumstances were, were the Polish(but probably not all of them), who believed, that, just like the yankis thought of the American Indians, that the only good one was a dead one..!..!..!..

[@jonathansteadman7935]

@@norrinradd3549 Yes as I understand it, Polish pilots having their country over run would shoot Luftwaffe pilots in their parachutes until it started happening to R.A.F. pilots. But the likes of most pilots were to kill the plane, not necessarily the pilot in the B.o. B.

[@mnd1955]

@@jonathansteadman7935 Air Chief Marshall Dowding had an interesting view on this topic. He opined that it was murder to kill parachuting Luftwaffe airmen over Britain because they were POWs. However, parachuting RAF pilots over England were legitimate targets because they could fly in combat again.

[@tomt373]

@@mnd1955 No wonder they relieved him of his command when they did.

[@ilguitaro]

@@norrinradd3549 I'd like to add to your comment, as seen in some texts on the subject of German jet interceptors, that a decree was made by the higher ups in the USAAF, that jet pilots, particularly valuable to the enemy, should be terminated if an opportunity presented itself. I'm sure most flyers on either side had more pressing concerns in the heat of battle than to place a high priority on the subject matter, (limited ammo supply whilst in the air being one of them) and I'm certain that an individual's conscience/perspective came into play regarding such matters.

[@jimbo4260]

Job well done Pete! Thank you for your fearless and courageous service. RIP Sir.

[@glasshalffullofwhatever3106]

Damn...awesome story..

[@loadedfun4764]

Thank you!

[@mistermurtad2831]

My dad was in the US Navy in WWII and served in the South Pacific. He said it was not uncommon to see the gunners cut a Japanese pilot in half as they floated down. War brings out brutality in men.

[@johnjennings8085]

It was either kill them or they will kill you.

[@mistermurtad2831]

@@johnjennings8085 Shooting a defenseless man floating in a parachute is a war crime. But given the anger you create after watching your buddies be killed is understandable. It is hard to contain the rage.

[@PoochAndBoo]

I love how unapologetic he is about what he did. He knew he was right and hasn't lost a night's sleep over it.

[@teru797]

He thought he was right because he was under the assumption the German wasn't just repaying the US for what they did previously "Which was shooting unarmed German parachutists" but of course they leave that part of the story out as the victors write history.

[@byronnorth5051]

@@teru797 The Germans, Japanese and Italians treated the allied prisoners of war in the most inhumane manor imaginable. They also shot our pilots floating, defenceless from the air and from the ground. Pay backs a bitch.

[@MicroageHD]

He's kinda just as bad tho...

[@teru797]

@@MicroageHD Worse when you realize what the allies were doing that they dont talk about in history class

[@daleburrell6273]

@@teru797 ...AW, GIVE IT UP- ALL YOU'RE DOING IS EMBARRASSING YOURSELF ON THE INTERNET!!!

[@kettch777]

There's a reason the P-51 was re-designated the F-51 after the war and was being used as a ground attack fighter as late as the end of the Vietnam War. Probably the greatest prop engine fighter ever built.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

Yes. They changed the designation 'P' = 'Pursuit' to 'F' = Fighter about 1947, I believe when the Air Force became a separate branch of service from the Army. 'P' became 'Photo' as in 'Photo Reconnaissance'' as it was 'F' Foto. Reconnaissance also had a 'R' prefix of it's own

[@dennisd4452]

I'd like to hear some stories and history of the use of nitrous in the P-51 Mustang

[@stelleratorsuprise8185]

Killing someone from a bomber crew in a parachute wouldn't make sense because: 1. Your mission is to destroy bombers (or fighters), keep fighting them. 2. If you are flying around hunting someone else, you can be distracted and become a victim by an enemy fighter. 3. Bomber crews downed over your own country will become POW, they won't came back and fight. There are stories from fighters pilots killing enemy airmen when they where over enemy ground, in this rare case it could make sense. But even then there where only rare occasions about such incidents, but it can make sense not to deploy you parachute to early. appendix: I wanted to explain why the action of the German pilot wasn't justified it was plain stupid and might have cost him his live. For the US pilot, well some people would be surprised to know about things allowed in a war. The German pilot was an enemy combatant, if he couldn't take him as prisoner he was allowed to shoot him.

[@davidbostock6089]

Ammunition supply aboard aircraft was limited, shooting those in parachutes would deplete ammunition needed to shoot planes, otherwise it would make sense to shoot those in parachutes.

[@taven46]

During the Battle of Britain RAF pilots had to (and did) refrain from shooting German air crew in chutes. Luftwaffe pilots on the other hand were free to shoot (and sometimes did shoot) RAF pilots in chutes over England. In each case they were following the rules of engagement at the time. The German Anderson shot didn't follow the rule. Anderson did nothing wrong shooting that man. Nevertheless pilots on both sides often refrained form shooting chutes even when it was legal.

[@s.marcus3669]

You sound like you've been watching nothing but Star Trek and other Leftist tripe all your young life. Start reading some books about real humans at war and watch how your perspective changes...

[@hazmat2879]

There's a thing called blood lust you know

[@TwoStageTrigger]

Old parachutes back then were not very strong. If you waited to deploy your chute it would rip or break the cords because you are going too fast for it to stop you.. Since Ww1 shooting downed pilots has been frowned on. The German pilot was wasting ammo, and should have been going after the mustang or b17s. He got himself killed by focusing on the parachutes, and got what he deserved.

[@russellsandidge4210]

I believe I saw Richard Peterson back in the 1980s. every year they used to have the Tico Warbird show in Titusville Florida. I attended it every year and it was always a great show. A lot of world war II veteran fighter pilots would attend that show and give talks and autographs. I believe Richard Peterson was one of them

[@carolgruber9314]

I saw him there too and he was a great guy to talk to.

[@mustangmikep51]

Yeh ...TICO was a good airshow..it was usually the 1st of the airshow season and I saw 3 space shuttle launches over the years as I attended the show..good times!

[@carolgruber9314]

@@mustangmikep51 Yes sir, great years!

[@suekennedy8917]

Was he in handcuffs and leg irons and a prison outfit?

[@mustangmikep51]

@@suekennedy8917 what r u trying to say sue?

[@carmaela2689]

How much we need men like this. More than ever!

[@theamericanpotatonamedphil4306]

My great grandpa was his crew chief and I heard stories of them cleaning the German off his plane. The history challen episode didn't mention that he flew through the German as well as almost dumping his guns into him. I've got a picture with all of them together in front of an early hurry home honey

[@danieltossounian1962]

That’s an awesome tidbit …

[@martyc1533]

The old saying "What goes around comes around" really applied here!!!

[@xistsixt]

at 800 50cal rounds per minute...

[@wasp6594]

So does the old saying: two wrongs don't make a right.

[@wasp6594]

@@joefriday2275 I agree with you i was playing Devil's advocate. I also would have shot that German pilot. In fact, there are a lot of people I can think of I wouldn't think twice about killing.

[@2polev355]

@@wasp6594 a giant nose with hands typed this comment.

[@CantoniaCustoms]

Something something soviet rape of Berlin

[@dominiquecharriere1285]

In WWII there were heroes, there were people that live their lives without noise, and there were scoundrels that would shoot people in parachute... on both sides.

[@davidconklin9552]

Show us the evidence of Allied pilots shooting the enemy while in their parachutes.

[@rogerwood4846]

PROOF OF ALLIED ATTROCITIES....?

[@nguyenanhdung8139]

Hamburg, Dresden, hundreds of other cities destroyed. Primary target: killing as many civilians as possible……15 million German civilians forced to leave their homes in East Germany as consequence of Allied ethnically cleansing, ca. 1 million killed during the ethnically cleansing, 1-2 Million women raped by Allied soldiers (Russians). War crimes on both sides. But Allied soldiers have not been punished…..

[@davidconklin9552]

@@nguyenanhdung8139: off-topic from shooting down air crew in parachutes.

[@ronnysundt3249]

@@davidconklin9552 No, it's not off topic. You asked for evidence of something that would never have been reported by the pilots themselves but the answer you got reflects the mentality of warfare on both sides. I have seen reports of British planes firing on German lifeboats in Norway, confirmed by Norwegian surviving prisoners from the shipwreck. Not reported by the pilots.

[@markbrown7103]

Yes Richard Peterson you are one of the great ones you will go down in history for a long time👍🏼👍🏼😃💖😎

[@GaryAa56]

The thing is: The Allies most of this he time abided by the Genieve Convention articles of war whereas, the axis very rarely did. But, then again, the idea of war is to kill the enemy.

[@basedhalo]

Well the "shooting parachuting pilots not allowed" part of the Geneva convention was only introduced in 1949

[@GaryAa56]

@@basedhalo I did not know it was in effect in 1949.

[@bobgav1]

Parabéns pelo seu canal! Sou veterano da aviação naval da Marinha do Brasil e sou fascinado pela história dos bravos veteranos que lutaram nas guerras. The comment was written in Brazilian Portuguese, if you wanna know what it means.

[@lsnows]

Que aparelho vc. voou? A-4? Super Puma?

[@seand.g423]

"...I mean, y-you can't miss!" Well, maybe most of their _pilots_ couldn't, but there's a good few reasons they're both called "Stormtroopers"...

[@red-n-blue9015]

pft...

[@davidallen3497]

Well done.

[@mikekrypel4771]

New to the channel, just wanted to say great stuff keep up the great work, looking forward to more cool videos

[@chipseal9403]

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

[@shannonmonroe5873]

Yodas twin brother Swartz once said. To bed with stinky bungholeo wakes up with stinky finger. So hence forth the term may the Swartz be with youuuuu was born. What Swartz or Gandolf have to do with this video I do not know.

[@rustybird8803]

Live in peace but be ready for war.

[@danielmocsny5066]

Live in a stable democracy surrounded by stable democracies and you won't have to go to war. No two liberal democracies have ever gone to war against each other. This is by the way what makes Trump's tireless efforts to undermine democracy with his Big Lie so dangerous.

[@chipseal9403]

@@danielmocsny5066 So do democracies turn wicked men into good men?

[@ironmanmachine]

@@danielmocsny5066 You are as ignorant as they come.

[@jameseveland6718]

Amen to you Sir Thank You Sir

[@will-i-am-not]

To shoot a man defenceless in a parachute deserves no respect

[@nogoodnameleft]

It is absolutely disgusting how many German and Japanese soldiers and officers were executed postwar because they did the same thing that the Allies did to parachuting airmen and sailors in lifeboats after their warships sank! One of the most bizarre things I witnessed was I saw a propaganda film where the U.S. government was bragging about USAAF and USN planes shooting Japanese sailors in the water and in lifeboats after 10+ destroyers and transports ships were sunk at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. How many Axis sailors/airmen were executed or sent to prison for at least a decade for doing the same thing the Allies were doing???

[@dflatt1783]

@@nogoodnameleft lol, ok bro. Stay away from those alt-right channels and 4 chan.

[@Michael-F4ul5kzbuck]

maybe not....but they would a turn around in another plane and come back maybe kill you too if he was a pilot...war is hell....people get bombed innocent people die ...

[@flybeep1661]

@@nogoodnameleft Lol, you're so full of shit.

[@gsmdo8836]

Are you talking about the German, the American, or both?🤔

[@coolcaiman9640]

This story elevates Instant Karma to a whole other level!

[@daffidavit]

The "Silver Star" is a very high honor. My uncle was a tank commander under General Patton in North Africa during Operation Torch and earned the Silver Star. If anybody here is still reading these comments and wants to know about my Uncle Pete's story, I'll be glad to tell you. I'm not bragging, but I'm just so damn proud of him and his 5 brothers who were also in the war. One was a nose gunner on a B-24. They all made it home, including my dad, obviously. But Uncle Pete's story, where he earned the Silver Star is amazing.

[@Brightos]

Tell us, please.

[@fredlance2538]

my dad was in the first armored , old iron sides ,operation torch and sicily and italy . I would love to hear you story.

[@TI4438]

Let's hear it.

[@daffidavit]

@@TI4438 My cousin, the son of my dad's brother told me this story about his father, my uncle Pete. I never heard about it until after his death. It goes something like this. North Africa was very hilly and troops from both sides were in heavy fighting. My uncle Pete was a tank commander, similar to the movie "Fury". He served under General Patton. This was early in the war and the tanks were very small with small turrets. My uncle and about 4 other tanks were in the middle of German and French Vichy troops ahead of them while trying to protect a small unit of American soldiers behind them. My uncle instructed all of his tankers to climb to the top of a hill and each take a shot. Then they back away and traveled downstream along the back of the hill and popped up again to the top taking more shots. They made it appear that there were many more than five tanks along the hilltop forcing the enemy to stand back and for cover. This allowed enough time for additional troops to strengthen their forces behind them. The tankers held the hill. The Silver Star is a very high honor. What amazes me is that my uncle never spoke about this or the war at all when I was growing up. None of my other uncles did either. Pete's brother, Jim, was a nose gunner on a B-24. I've seen the photos but I have no stories to tell about him. I'm proud of my family and all the other soldiers who fought so hard for my country. That's the way I was told how this event happened.

[@TI4438]

@@daffidavit thanks for sharing that story. Much appreciated.

[@Mtlmshr]

And that’s how that’s done! Quick justice!

[@trailblazer1047]

Good Move Mr. Peterson,War is hell he asked for it.You did the right thing wonder what went through his mind.Next time i will look more into it.Glad you made it home.

[@petesis7934]

An old friend of mine got shot down from a US bomber, over Hamburg. He said the civilians would just as soon hang you from a tree if they caught you. He was fortunate he was picked up by a policeman and wound up in a POW camp where he remained to the end of the war. Even if you made it to the ground, you were in grave danger in that situation. I think it was the same for the Germans over England. These men are almost all gone now. I miss my friend. He was a hero in so many ways and you would never have known it unless you knew him.

[@michaelleblanc7283]

Spent many years interviewing airforce vets in (late 80's - mid-90s who had been shot down. Heard the same kind of story told by them. The instigator of the threats was often described as a political type - like a mayor.

[@orexgabriel2448]

Well, they were carpet bombing civilian targets. Obviously the locals were hating them.

[@smitentertainment]

Seeing people melting into the asphalt of a burning city or being liquified in a shelter does something to a civilian.