The Story of a P-47 Pilot Who Was Spared and Escorted Back to Base by Two Luftwaffe Pilots

December 17th, 1944 was a critical moment during the Second World War. American forces were battling against a fierce German offensive known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, also called the Battle of the Bulge. In the skies above Belgium, pilots from both sides were locked in intense combat. One such pilot was Lieutenant Edwin Cottrell, flying a P-47 Thunderbolt as part of the 48th Fighter Group, known as the Grim Reapers. Cottrell’s mission that day was a low-level strike on German forces, but what happened next would become one of the war’s more unusual and unexpected stories.

Ed Cottrell’s P-47 Thunderbolt, affectionately called “R Mary,” was among the most powerful fighter planes of the war. It was well-known for its durability and ability to take heavy damage. On this particular day, Cottrell’s squadron was tasked with bombing German tanks advancing toward American lines in Belgium. As they dove toward the target, the sky became chaotic when German fighters suddenly ambushed the squadron.

The Ambush Over Belgium

The mission began as many others had for Cottrell and his comrades in the 493rd Fighter Squadron. They had flown numerous sorties, supporting American ground forces by bombing and strafing German positions. By December 1944, the battle in the Ardennes was becoming desperate, and every flight was critical to stopping the German advance. Cottrell’s squadron took off that morning, flying in formation, with the Thunderbolts carrying bombs designed to disable German tanks and vehicles.

As the planes approached their target, Cottrell and his squadron descended toward the German positions. The plan was to make a low-level attack on a convoy of tanks. Everything seemed to be going according to plan until, in a moment of panic, the German air force appeared. A group of Messerschmitt Bf 109s descended upon the American planes, catching them off guard.

Cottrell found himself in a perilous situation. His squadron leader had already dropped his bombs and pulled away from the attack, but as Cottrell followed, he saw one of the German fighters closing in fast. Before he could react, he felt his Thunderbolt take a direct hit.

The Hit

The sound of the impact was unmistakable, and within seconds, oil began to spill all over the cockpit. Cottrell’s P-47 had been hit by 20mm cannon fire from the German fighter. His windshield was covered in oil, making it impossible for him to see clearly. The damage was severe, and his plane began losing altitude rapidly. He was now a sitting target, unable to defend himself or escape the oncoming German fighters.

In the heat of battle, Cottrell knew that his chances of survival were slim. Many pilots in his situation would have been shot down and lost. But what happened next was completely unexpected. Instead of finishing him off, two of the German pilots pulled up alongside his stricken aircraft. The Luftwaffe fighters had a perfect opportunity to destroy him, but they didn’t take it. Instead, they chose a different course of action

An Unlikely Escort

Cottrell was stunned. The two German pilots, rather than attacking him again, flew alongside him. It was clear that they had chosen not to fire their weapons. In an extraordinary act of mercy, they began to escort his damaged Thunderbolt out of the combat zone. The German pilots stayed with Cottrell as he struggled to keep his plane in the air. They flew on either side of him, making sure he wasn’t targeted by other German planes.

For Cottrell, the situation was surreal. Here he was, in the middle of one of the most brutal conflicts in history, and two enemy pilots had spared his life. Together, the three planes flew over the Belgian countryside, away from the battle. The Germans never fired a single shot after their initial hit. Cottrell could barely believe what was happening. His life had been spared by the very pilots who could have easily taken it.

Returning Home

With the help of the German pilots, Cottrell was able to nurse his P-47 back toward friendly lines. The Luftwaffe fighters stayed with him until they were sure he was out of danger. Then, as quickly as they had appeared, they peeled off and disappeared back into the sky. Cottrell, still shaken and confused by what had happened, managed to make an emergency landing at a nearby airfield. His plane was badly damaged, but he was alive.

This incredible story of compassion in the midst of war became one of the most remarkable moments of Cottrell’s career. It was a rare instance where humanity triumphed over the brutality of combat. The two German pilots, whose identities remain unknown, had made a choice that went against the norms of warfare. They had chosen to show mercy rather than kill, a decision that spared Cottrell’s life and left a lasting impression on him.