How 2 German Pilots Did The Unthinkable

This is a story about Edwin Cottrell, a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot who, under extraordinary circumstances, was spared by two German Luftwaffe pilots, and even escorting him all the way home.

On The Offensive

The year was December 1944. The German army is beginning what would be their final offensive- a maximum-effort attack to try and break the American lines in Belgium. 

The battered American infantry and airborne units needed support, and the only ones in the right position were the 493rd Fighter Squadron of the 48th Fighter Group also known as the Grim Reapers. 

On December 17, the group would be called for a low-level diving mission repelling German advances. The Grim Reapers came across the Belgian countryside in tight formation, located the bridge, and the first four P-47s released their bombs.

The other four planes then moved to find a ground target for their bombs – this was the flight of Ed Cotrell and the rest of the crew.

However, it wasn’t long before they were ambushed by Messerschmitt 109s, and would land a direct hit to Our Mary, his P-47. Ed knew that it was likely a 20 mm cannon impact and things weren’t going well. His Thunderbolt was losing power, hot oil covering his entire plane making visibility next to zero.

Long Flight Back

At this point, he was too low to bail out and had minimal control or maneuverability because of the state of his plane.  

He was flying 2,000 ft. above the ground and chugging along at 130 mph when he saw two Me 109s crisscross behind him. He waited for the worst possible outcome – for the bullets to come, but didn’t. 

Unbelievable Act of Mercy

In one of the most unbelievable acts of mercy, two Me 109s approached the stricken Thunderbolt and went on to fly with the damaged P-47 Thunderbolt, clearly recognizing that the plane was crippled and incapable of fighting.

After giving a signal to Ed, the two German pilots peeled off and headed back home, leaving Our Mary and her stunned pilot in friendly territory. Cottrell found out later that he lost 8 cylinders out of the 18, and yet the Pratt& Whitney engine of his plane ran.

“When we got near the bomb line, they circled their first finger and thumb and peeled off, went back to Germany,” Cottrell recalled.

Unfortunately, he never got to meet the two German pilots who spared his life that fateful day. “I would love to meet them (I never will) but I would love to meet them and thank them,” he said.