A SAM EMW Wasserfall C2 W-5 shortly after launching. Wasserfall was a surface-to-air guided missile.

EMW Wasserfal (2)

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 over the English Channel.  Photo was taken from the rear gunner of another plane in the formation.  The first 110C had a DB-601A-1 engine and came into service January 1939.  The later C-4 modification added about 500 lbs. of crew armor. The C-4/B model was fitted with an ETC-250 bomb rack under the fuselage, which allowed the carriage of two 250 kg. bombs. To offset the additional drag, the more powerful DB-601N engine was used in place of the DB-601A.
Original Color--hartyattack

Bf 110C-4

On 20 December 1943, Franz met the B-17 bomber named "Ye Olde Pub" and its crew for the first time, but it would not be the last. Franz had shot down 2 B-17s earlier on that day and he soon caught up to this wounded B-17 flown by Charles Brown. Lining up to finish the bomber and shoot it down, he noticed the tail gunner never moved the guns. Upon further inspection of the airplane he saw through the large holes in the fuselage a frantic crew trying to save the lives of their fellow airmen. "Franz felt like this was shooting men in their parachutes". Stigler motioned to Brown to land his airplane because of the extensive damage. However, Brown flew on and when they reached the North Sea coast Stigler saluted Brown and broke formation to return to base.

Stigler never spoke of this incident as he could have been court-martialed. Charles Brown told his commanding officers, who chose to keep the incident secret. Years later, Charles Brown searched for the German pilot who let them live that day, and eventually the two pilots met face to face, half a century later.