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  • A Higher Call

  • The Incredible True Story of Heroism and Chivalry During World War Two
  • By: Adam Makos, Larry Alexander
  • Narrated by: Robertson Dean
  • Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (329 ratings)

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A Higher Call

By: Adam Makos, Larry Alexander
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
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Summary

Four days before Christmas 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a 21-year-old pilot. Suddenly, a German Messerschmitt fighter pulled up on his tail. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber in the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would later be called 'the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.'

This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day: 2nd Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a farm boy from West Virginia, and 2nd Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.

What happened between them was later classified 'top secret.' It was an act that Franz could never mention or else face a firing squad. It was an encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years...

©2013 Adam Makos (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about A Higher Call

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A magnificent story

Not only is it one of the most amazing stories I have heard, but it is also told in a manner that is emotionally stirring. If you listen to it while cycling, take regular crying stops so that your vision doesn't blur while in motion.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible story

This story deserves to be made into a movie. The incredible bravery and ,honour it portrayed
Leaves you feeling humble.we are lucky that such men existed
If you are a reader of W11 stories this is a must

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wow

One of the best books I've listened too. Told in an interesting and captivating way. It got dusty in the room at the end. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Thank you for your service you brave men.

Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler story has brought me to tear ever time I listen to it and I highly recommended it to anyone who love learning about the war.

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A book for all seasons!

What made the experience of listening to A Higher Call the most enjoyable?

The narrator was captivating - his intonations and accents really held my attention

What did you like best about this story?

The thread throughout. This is a story with a moral behind it - anyone with military service will understand the moral code of the opposing forces during WW2.

Which character – as performed by Robertson Dean – was your favourite?

I liked the way he portrayed Franz - probably because Franz was the main character - although Charlie's was good too.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was in tears at points during this story, the tragedy and pointlessness of war and how people were treated afterwards. Franz had a big struggle to regain his dignity after doing his calling for his country.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the must read books - I only have a few and this is high on my list. Thanks to my Uncle Donald who told me about it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Book

Absolutely brilliant book. I will be listening to this again. I will be buying a hard copy. I would rate this more than 5 star.

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Great book.

Very interesting and warming book at times, but also shows the dark side of both sides of the war.

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Astonishingly humane account of air combat in WW2

One of the best and most moving accounts of what it must have been like to fight the air war in WW2, from both sides. And with an incredible story at the heart of it. Beautifully narrated. Can't fault a minute of this book. My only complaint is that it had to come to an end. Like other reviewers I ended up crying in many places as the story unfolded. Can't recommend this book highly enough, both as a document of WW2 air war combat, but also of courage, humanity, and 'the better angels of our nature', as Abraham Lincoln once put it.

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an amazing tale.

a very engaging story, amazingly true. the detail within the story is fascinating and the outcome is wonderful.

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Like no other

I have read quite a number of books recently on these fly boys of the war and this is an outstanding account of an incredible story. The german pilots had it hard theres no doubt anout it, this covers the experience of Franz and his commrades vividly.

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2 people found this helpful