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)

Great Story !

The story and narration was great! If you're an aviation, history or WWII enthusiast you will truly enjoy this. The narrator brings it to life like no other audiobook I have experienced.

Engrossing ...

A well research and written account of World War II heros. Narration is excellent and adds greatly to the flow of the book.

Thanks.

awesome book

Great true story. seeing the war from both sides was very interesting., if you like reading about WW2 read this book.

Excellent story & account of actual history

A great story! Very well written; I couldn’t put it down. This story reads like a Hollywood movie.

Evan's Review

Great story. Would not read this book if it wasn't free. This is great story for those that believe that believe in a higher being that God has a plan for every living being.

Incredible book, incredible story

This may have been the first time I ever became teary eyed listening to an audiobook! This story is amazing and anyone interested in military in general should take a listen.

5 star book

This is one of the most well written non fiction books I have ever read/listened to. I told my husband he will never need to go to another World War 2 air museum after reading it because he will actually live it through the words of former foes. The narrator, Robertson Dean, captured and held my attention throughout. As an American, it opened my eyes to the fact that there are two sides to every story and what an amazing story this is! I wish I could give this book 10 stars.

Inspiring story

Although I don’t normally read war stories I’m very glad that this was chosen for my book club. It reminds us that there are decent people in every country and ethnic group.

great listen

great story of the history of ww2 and humanity. people are generally good and we should know all sides of history not just the vectors side.

emotionally overpowering

a true story of professional soldiers a true story of love a true story of Honor