On December 20, 1943, American B-17 bomber Ye Old Pub was returning from a bombing mission over Germany when its badly damaged condition left it vulnerable to enemy fighters. With only two functioning engines, a damaged rudder, wounded crew members and most of its defensive guns disabled, the aircraft appeared unlikely to survive the journey back to England. A German fighter pilot, Franz Stigler, had the opportunity to destroy it. Instead, he made a decision that would remain secret for decades.
