Lyrics of No Bullets Fly by Sabaton
From down below an enemy spotted
So hurry up, rearm and refuel
But through the bomber’s damaged airframe
See wounded men, scared to their bone
Look to the right and then look again
And see the enemy in the eye
No bullets fly, spared by his mercy
Escorted out, out of harm’s way
Fly, fighting fair, it’s the code of the air
Brothers, heroes, foes
Killing machine
Honour in the skies
B17
Flying home
Killing machine
Said goodbye to the cross he deserved
He risked his life two times that day
To save an unknown enemy
Escort to safety, out of the killzone
A short salute, then departed
Fly, fighting fair, it’s the code of the air
Brothers, heroes, foes
Killing machine
Honour in the skies
B17
Flying home
Killing machine
Said goodbye to the cross he deserved
Historical Background
In short: The song is about Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown and an act of humanity in World War II!
No Bullets Fly – The German Pilot Who Spared His Enemy
Some warriors fight for victory. Others fight with honor.
No Bullets Fly isn’t just about war—it’s about a moment of mercy in the middle of destruction. The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident was a rare act of humanity in World War II, where a German fighter pilot chose to spare a crippled American bomber instead of finishing it off.
This is how a simple decision turned two enemies into brothers.
December 20, 1943 – Over the Skies of Germany
“From down below an enemy spotted, so hurry up, rearm and refuel.”
The war in the air was merciless. Aerial combat was fast, brutal, and left no room for hesitation.
That day, Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a B-17 bomber pilot from the U.S. Army Air Forces, was limping through enemy territory after a bombing run over Bremen, Germany.
- His Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, named “Ye Olde Pub”, was shredded by Flak (anti-aircraft fire) and enemy fighters.
- Half of his crew was wounded, and his tail gunner was dead.
- The bomber was barely holding together, struggling to stay in the air.
“But through the bomber’s damaged airframe, see wounded men, scared to their bone.”
Suddenly, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter approached.
Brown and his crew braced for death.
Franz Stigler – A German Ace’s Dilemma
“Look to the right and then look again, and see the enemy in the eye.”
The German pilot was Franz Stigler, a Luftwaffe ace fighter pilot with 22 kills.
- He could have easily finished the bomber off—one more kill would bring him closer to the Knight’s Cross, Germany’s highest military honor.
- But when he saw the bomber’s state and its helpless crew, something changed.
- He remembered his training—his commander had told him:
“If I ever see or hear of you shooting at a man in a parachute, I will shoot you myself.”
Stigler realized: This wasn’t a battle—it was an execution.
“No bullets fly, spared by his mercy. Escorted out, out of harm’s way.”
A Salute and a Farewell
“Fly, fighting fair, it’s the code of the air. Brothers, heroes, foes.”
Instead of destroying the bomber, Stigler flew alongside it.
- He signaled to Brown, trying to get him to land and surrender—but Brown refused.
- Stigler then did something unthinkable: He escorted the bomber through German airspace, ensuring no German anti-aircraft gunners would fire upon it.
- When they reached the North Sea, Stigler looked at Brown, saluted, and flew away.
“Killing machine, honor in the skies. B-17, flying home.”
Charlie Brown and his crew made it back to RAF Seething in England alive.
A Story Almost Lost to History
“He risked his life two times that day, to save an unknown enemy.”
For decades, Brown never knew who that German pilot was.
- In 1990, he searched for the enemy who had saved his life.
- Franz Stigler was still alive.
- When they met, they embraced as brothers—crying as they recalled that fateful day.
“Escort to safety, out of the kill zone. A short salute, then departed.”
They remained friends until their deaths in 2008—dying within months of each other.
Why No Bullets Fly Still Matters
“Said goodbye to the cross he deserved.”
Franz Stigler never received the Knight’s Cross, because he chose mercy over victory.
But he gained something far greater—the respect of his former enemy, and a place in history as a man who chose humanity over war.
His act of mercy reminds us that even in the darkest conflicts, honor and decency can still exist.
Want to Learn More?
- 📖 Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident (Wikipedia) – A detailed account of the real-life event.
- 🎥 Sabaton History – No Bullets Fly – A historical deep dive by Sabaton.
- 🎥 First Meeting of Franz Stigler & Charlie Brown – Footage of the emotional reunion between the two pilots.
- ✈️ Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress – The bomber that Charlie Brown piloted.
- ✈️ Messerschmitt Bf 109 – The fighter that Franz Stigler flew.
- 🛩️ Luftwaffe – The German Air Force in WWII.
- 🎖️ Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross – Germany’s highest military award.
The Lesson?
Wars are won with guns.
But sometimes, heroes are made by choosing not to fire.
And on December 20, 1943, Franz Stigler proved exactly that.