A Higher Call

An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II

By: Adam Makos

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER: “Beautifully told.”—CNN • “A remarkable story…worth retelling and celebrating.”—USA Today • “Oh, it’s a good one!”—Fox News

A beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies emerges from the horrors of World War II in this New York Times bestseller by the author of Devotion, now a Major Motion Picture.

Four days before Christmas in 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a twenty-one-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber with the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would defy imagination and 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—the American—Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a former farm boy from West Virginia who came to captain a B-17—and the German—Second Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.

A Higher Call follows both Charlie and Franz’s harrowing missions. Charlie would face takeoffs in English fog over the flaming wreckage of his buddies’ planes, flak bursts so close they would light his cockpit, and packs of enemy fighters that would circle his plane like sharks. Franz would face sandstorms in the desert, a crash alone at sea, and the spectacle of one thousand bombers, each with eleven guns, waiting for his attack.

Ultimately, Charlie and Franz would stare across the frozen skies at one another. What happened between them, the American Eighth Air Force would later classify as top secret. It was an act that Franz could never mention without facing a firing squad. It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search for one another, a last mission that could change their lives forever.

©2012 Adam Makos (P)2013 Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

“This book grips you like a movie. It’s part Top Gun, part Valkyrie, and more!”(Marcus Brotherton, New York Times best-selling author

“It is often said that ‘war is hell’ - and it is - however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours. A Higher Call is an eye-opener.” (Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII)

“‘Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?’ The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.” (Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand)

I loved hearing the German perspective.

Great book! My father flew in b-17s and I could almost hear his voice telling the stories. I really enjoyed it.

Fascinating story

I really enjoyed this story. The narrator was good but I had a hard time getting behind the German accents. It wasnt enough to take away from enjoying the book though. I would definitely recommend.

Amazing!

This audio book was amazing! I have been on a WW2 history absorption for a while now and this one was the best! I have a hard time “getting in” to books and audio but this one had me glued, I could not stop listening! It is a must listen for sure!

WW2 Must Read Book!

Every great story, one of the best I have heard! This book talks about a remarkable story and an event which was keep classified until uncovered by this book. I have read some books on WW2 German life and seen war documentaries, but this book sheds a light on the German Luftwaffe like never before. The story did tug on my heart also, every touching story.

Incredible story of honor amongst adversaries

A great story of honor on both sides of a difficult war. Easily one of the most enthralling and engaging stories I’ve ever heard. The narration is impeccable and the story full of humor, sadness, and hope on all sides. I highly recommend this audio book to anyone with an interest in history, World War II, our military honor.

This book will leave you speechless 10X over!

The true stories in this book capture what’s great about the human spirit. It will leave you humbled and longing to leave your best mark in this world!

Incredible story

This was one of the most interesting and well done audio books I have ever listened to. Well worth the time.

Excellent!

I really enjoyed this book. As someone who has worked extensively with Veterans, I appreciated the two men’s stories. And as someone who has read dozens of veterans’ biographies, I have to say that the battle scenes were especially well written. I usually lose track of who/what/where/when during these action packed scenes, but in this case I felt I was getting a very clear picture of what was happening! So grateful this story wasn’t lost!

Excellence All Around

This book is an excellent story about heroism, humanity, faith and destiny. An absolutely enthralling account of the realities that are war and the bonds linking those who defend and serve to each other and their homelands.

Great story

I liked the story very much particularly the details of Stigler. The reader’s German accent and character voices could’ve been better though. I will be recommending this to others